The CTBC Brothers of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) have made two significant additions to their pitching staff, announcing the signings of Venezuelan right-handers William Cuevas and Jesús Vargas. Both bring international experience and postseason pedigree to a Brothers team looking to solidify its playoff push in the second half of the 2025 season.
中信兄弟 @CTBC_Brothers 宣佈簽下兩名洋投，分別是前韓職KT巫師投手柯威士 #WilliamCuevas ，以及去年世界12強賽委內瑞拉國手韋禮加 #JesusVargas 。
兩名投手皆在比賽狀態內，柯威士剛離開韓國職棒，韋禮加本季則是在委內瑞拉夏季棒球聯盟出賽，期待加入球隊後能快速出賽。 pic.twitter.com/yQxIkD5b6E
— Yihsuan Wang 王翊亘 (@YihsuanWang_) July 26, 2025
Cuevas, 34, was recently released by the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) earlier this month. Despite his departure, his legacy with the franchise remains firmly intact. A Venezuelan-Colombian pitcher, Cuevas was a mainstay in the KBO from 2019 to 2022 and again during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, making a total of 194 starts during his time in South Korea. At his peak, he was considered one of the league’s most dependable arms.
His most iconic moment came during the dramatic conclusion to the 2021 KBO regular season. In a historic one-game tiebreaker to decide the regular-season title—Korea’s first such game in 35 years—Cuevas took the mound for the KT Wiz on just two days’ rest. Rising to the occasion, he threw seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts, leading the Wiz to a 1–0 victory. The win not only secured the regular-season crown, but also earned KT a direct berth into the Korean Series for the first time in franchise history.
Cuevas didn’t stop there. In Game 1 of the 2021 Korean Series, he once again delivered, going 7 2/3 innings and allowing just one run en route to a win over the Doosan Bears. The KT Wiz would eventually sweep the series and clinch their first KBO championship, with Cuevas playing a pivotal role in their title run.
🚨BREAKING
The KT Wiz have decided to let go of foreign SP William Cuevas.
THANK YOU 쿠에바스
William Cuevas will be remembered forever in KT Wiz history, not only for his SEVEN (!) seasons with the KT Wiz, but for his dedication to securing the KT Wiz their first ever Korean… pic.twitter.com/WPPl9VLYJU
— KBO in English (@KBO_ENG) July 9, 2025
Before his success overseas, Cuevas spent many years grinding through the minor leagues. Signed in 2009, he made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2016, and had a brief stint with the Detroit Tigers in 2017 and another with the Red Sox in 2018, where he pitched 17 innings and posted a 7.41 ERA. His MLB opportunities were limited, and after 2023—which included a short 44-inning stint with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate—Cuevas continued his career in Korea, Mexico, and winter ball in Venezuela.
In 2025 with the KT Wiz, Cuevas struggled with consistency, finishing with a 5.40 ERA over 98 1/3 innings. He struck out 60 batters, but his strikeouts per nine innings (5.5) were the lowest of his professional career over a full season. Despite the downturn in performance, his wealth of postseason experience and history of stepping up in big games make him a valuable asset for the Brothers as they chase a CPBL championship.
Now with CTBC, Cuevas will immediately join a team in the thick of the playoff race. The Brothers finished second in the CPBL’s first half and are currently second in the standings again in the second half with a 6–5 record. They are well-positioned for a postseason berth, and the organization will count on Cuevas to bring his trademark playoff poise to the CPBL stage.
Cuevas has had experience in international play as well. He represented Colombia at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He started against Great Britain and went 3 innings and allowed 2 runs in Colombia’s 7-5 loss. He represented Colombia at the 2017 World Baseball Classic as well.
Joining Cuevas in Taiwan is fellow Venezuelan right-hander Jesús Vargas, who will be making his professional debut in Asian baseball. The 26-year-old began his career in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization in 2015, eventually reaching as high as Triple-A in 2022 while with the New York Mets’ system.
Since then, Vargas has continued to build his résumé in the Caribbean and Latin American circuits. He has pitched regularly in the Venezuelan Winter League and spent the 2024 season in Mexico’s Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB). Splitting time between two clubs in the LMB, Vargas posted a 4.66 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 87 innings in one of the most hitter-friendly environments in professional baseball.
Although he has not pitched professionally since the 2025 Caribbean Series, Vargas left a lasting impression. Representing Venezuela, he threw eight no-hit innings against the Japan Breeze to earn the win in one of the tournament’s most memorable performances.
Caribbean Series: The 2025 Caribbean Series Is History, And What A Great Series It Was
Additionally, Vargas also suited up for Venezuela at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament. He turned in a solid showing, recording a 3.86 ERA with eight strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings in two starts against Panama and the United States. His ability to perform on the global stage has made him an intriguing option for clubs abroad, and the Brothers have moved swiftly to bring him into the fold.
For CTBC, Vargas brings youth, potential, and a versatile arm that can be molded into either a starting role or high-leverage relief option. With the team in playoff contention and seeking its second consecutive CPBL title, his contributions down the stretch could prove vital.
With the additions of Cuevas and Vargas, the CTBC Brothers have strengthened their pitching depth at a crucial juncture in the 2025 season. Cuevas offers battle-tested leadership and postseason excellence, while Vargas adds upside and international experience. Both will be expected to make immediate impacts as the Brothers look to navigate a competitive second-half schedule and pursue another championship in Taiwan.
WBN CPBL: https://worldbaseball.com/league/taiwan-2/chinese-professional-baseball-league/
