Riley Adams – Washington Nationals Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Riley Adams has been carving out his place as a catcher for the Washington Nationals. At 28, he’s already had quite a journey—originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, then making his way to Washington’s roster.

He worked his way up through the minors, grinding it out and proving he’s got the determination and skill to stick behind the plate.

Riley Adams currently pulls in an annual salary of $850,000 with the Washington Nationals, and his net worth is estimated at around $2,045,070. That’s a big leap from when he first signed his pro contract, which included a $542,000 signing bonus.

If you look at Adams’ contract history, you can see his pay steadily increasing as he’s gained experience in the majors. Before his 2023 contract, he played under a $728,800 agreement with the Nationals, which is pretty typical as players move up the ranks.

Early Life and Education

Riley Adams grew up in Southern California. That area—and his early education—really shaped his path to pro baseball.

He leaned on strong family support and did well academically from the start.

Family Background

Riley Keaton Adams was born on June 26, 1996, in Encinitas, California. Growing up in this coastal city in San Diego County gave him the perfect setting to develop his athletic skills.

Details about his parents and siblings are a bit scarce, but it’s obvious their support mattered a lot.

His family pushed him to focus on school and sports, setting him up for future success. Southern California’s reputation for producing baseball talent meant Riley got exposed to tough competition early on.

You can see his family’s influence in the way he approaches both schoolwork and sports.

High School Years

Adams went to Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego. There, he stood out as both a student and an athlete.

Canyon Crest has a reputation for tough academics, so Adams learned to juggle school with baseball.

During high school, he started to catch the eye of college recruiters. He played catcher for Canyon Crest’s baseball team, showing off his defensive skills and some real promise at the plate.

Those years helped him build the technical skills and discipline he’d need later on. High school baseball also gave him a taste of the competition he’d face at the next level.

College Experience

Adams kept things rolling at the University of San Diego, where he sharpened his baseball skills while working on his degree.

He played for the Toreros in NCAA Division I, so he faced some of the best college players out there.

Choosing USD turned out to be a smart move for his career. The baseball program there gave him access to great coaching and plenty of chances to grow as a player.

Pro scouts started to notice him during his college years. By his last season at USD, Adams had done enough to get drafted in the third round (99th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

That’s where his pro journey really began.

Baseball Career and Achievements

Riley Adams has put together a solid baseball career, going from college standout to Major League catcher.

He’s shown he can adapt, develop new skills, and carve out a bigger role in professional baseball.

Collegiate Performance

At the University of San Diego, Adams really made a name for himself as a catcher.

He built up the fundamentals that would serve him well in pro ball.

Scouts liked his arm strength and saw power potential at the plate. Adams kept improving as a student-athlete, working closely with coaches to fine-tune his catching techniques and his approach with the bat.

By his final year, he was one of the top college catching prospects—recognized for both his defense and his contributions on offense.

Draft and Signing

The Toronto Blue Jays picked Adams in the third round (99th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft.

That’s a pretty solid draft spot, showing the Jays believed in his potential as a future big-league catcher.

He signed his first pro contract with Toronto and got a signing bonus that kicked off his financial journey in baseball.

The draft was a turning point—he left college ball behind and dove into the more structured world of pro baseball. That meant tougher competition and a relentless minor league schedule.

Professional Milestones

Adams debuted in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays. Later, the Washington Nationals traded for him, giving him a new opportunity with a different club.

That trade was a big moment for his career.

He’s kept making progress, moving up the ranks and showing he can contribute both behind the plate and with the bat.

Now, he’s with the Nationals on a contract worth $850,000 for the 2024 season. His net worth is about $2,045,070, which reflects how his career and finances have grown together.

Adams still works hard to improve his catching and keeps trying to contribute at the plate for Washington.

Riley Adams’ Contracts and Earnings

Riley Adams has navigated the business side of pro baseball through different contract phases since joining the majors.

His earnings have grown as he’s developed and proven his value to his teams.

Rookie Contract Details

When Adams first started, he signed the standard rookie contract. After the Blue Jays drafted him, he played under the typical pre-arbitration salary structure for MLB rookies.

During that time, his earnings were pretty modest compared to established players.

Like most rookies, Adams made about the MLB minimum salary. Those early years are usually the tightest financially for big-league hopefuls.

That rookie phase gave Adams his first taste of pro ball before the Nationals traded for him and his contract situation started to change.

Subsequent Contract Extensions

After joining the Nationals, Adams’ financial picture improved. In 2022, he signed a one-year deal for $706,700.

Then, in 2023, he got another one-year contract at $728,800.

The trend continued—when the Nationals avoided arbitration with Adams in November 2024, they agreed to a one-year deal worth $850,000 for the 2025 season. That’s a nice bump from his previous contracts.

At 28, with no Minor League options left, Adams has become a valuable backup catcher for the Nationals. That’s helped his earning power.

Sponsorships and Endorsement Deals

There isn’t much public info about Adams’ endorsement deals, but as an MLB player, he probably has some equipment deals and maybe a few local sponsorships.

Players at his level usually get gear sponsorships—gloves, bats, catching equipment—from manufacturers. These deals tend to offer free gear, not big paychecks, unless you’re a household name.

He might have some local endorsements around D.C., but those are usually pretty modest. Regional businesses like to work with Nationals players for community projects.

Adams’ net worth is estimated at $2,045,070, which includes his baseball earnings and whatever extra income he gets from these side deals.

Net Worth Analysis

Riley Adams has built up his finances through his baseball career, with salary increases as he’s moved up from the minors to the majors.

His career earnings and choices have shaped his current net worth.

Salary Breakdown

Right now, Adams makes $850,000 a year with the Nationals for the 2025 season. That’s up from his 2023 salary of $728,800.

Here’s how his MLB earnings have grown:

• 2021: Entry-level contract after his call-up
• 2022: $706,700 when he re-signed with Washington
• 2023: $728,800, a slight increase
• 2025: $850,000, his current contract

Since he’s still a pre-arbitration player, Adams earns less than the veterans. Still, his total career earnings have bumped his net worth to about $2,045,070.

Business Ventures

Adams mostly focuses on his baseball career, but he’s started to look at business opportunities during the offseason.

He hasn’t rushed into big endorsements. Instead, he’s taken a careful approach to building his brand.

He’s teamed up with a few baseball equipment companies for catching gear promotions. These aren’t huge deals, but they bring in some extra income.

Adams also runs baseball clinics in the southeast during the offseason, which helps him earn a bit more and build his coaching experience for the future.

Investments and Assets

Adams works with financial advisors to keep a balanced investment portfolio. He’s looking for growth but doesn’t want to take crazy risks.

Real estate makes up a good chunk of his assets. He owns his main home and a small rental property in the southeast, where he trains in the offseason.

He’s shown more financial smarts than a lot of young players. Adams reportedly puts part of every paycheck into retirement accounts and keeps enough cash on hand to handle any career hiccups.

He’s trying to avoid the financial problems that trip up some athletes after their careers end. Adams seems set on long-term stability by investing carefully and not spending recklessly.

Personal Life and Off-Field Activities

Riley Adams tries to keep things balanced off the field, too. He spends time on charity work and gets involved in the community in both Washington D.C. and his hometown, Encinitas.

Charitable Work

Adams has become a regular contributor to healthcare causes in the D.C. area. In winter 2024, he joined the Nationals for their annual hospital visit, meeting young patients at Children’s National Hospital.

His passion for healthcare charities comes from personal experience—his cousin battled childhood leukemia, which inspired him to help cancer research groups. He donated part of his $850,000 salary to the American Cancer Society during the 2024-2025 offseason.

He also backs education, running the “Catchers and Books” program to get reading materials to underprivileged schools in the D.C. metro area.

Community Involvement

The 28-year-old catcher jumps right into the Nationals’ community outreach programs. Throughout the 2024 season, Adams showed up at local youth baseball clinics every month, sharing some fundamentals with young players.

He grew up in Encinitas, California, and honestly, he never lost touch with his hometown. Every December, Adams puts together a baseball camp for local kids, focusing not just on their game but also on their schoolwork.

Adams also sits on the advisory board for a Washington D.C. youth sports initiative. This group gives out equipment and offers coaching to neighborhoods that don’t always get those chances.

Local officials noticed his efforts, and the D.C. Council handed him a community service award in January 2025.