Cuban P Vladimir Gutierrez Will Start Season in Triple-A; Darrell Hernaiz Makes Oakland’s Roster

Vladimir Gutiérrez of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during a game against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on June 03, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Cincinnati Reds/Getty Images)

Cuban RHP Vladimir Gutierrez Assigned To Triple-A Jacksonville – Gutierrez is not on the Marlins opening day roster and will start the 2024 season in Triple-A Jacksonville, Francys Romero of beisbolfr.com reported on March 27. 

Cuban RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (28) did not make the Marlins' Opening Day team and agreed to be assigned to Jacksonville, Triple-A, per sources. pic.twitter.com/bSde0HPpZK

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) March 27, 2024

He signed a minor league contract with the Marlins on February 22. 

Gutierrez, 28, was born in La Habana, Cuba, and has played two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds from 2021-22. 

Gutierrez went 1-1 during spring training with six appearances and one start, recording one save and posting a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings. He allowed 12 hits, four earned runs, two home runs, four walks, and notched nine strikeouts with a 1.600 WHIP. 

Gutierrez began his journey to play in MLB after leaving the the 2014-15 Cuban Serie Nacional champion Vegueros de Pinar del Río at 2015 Caribbean Series and made his way to Mexico. He was declared a free agent by the MLB commissioner’s office on July 7, 2015. 

Last season, Gutierrez played with Triple-A Louisville in the Reds organization. In three bullpen appearances, he posted a 1-1 record with a 8.31 ERA, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing three hits, four earned runs, one home run, four walks, and four strikeouts while recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

Gutierrez played in two games and started one game at the Arizona Complex Level in 2023 with the Reds and threw two innings, walking two batters and striking out three. 

During the 2022 regular season, Gutierrez posted a 1-6 record with a 7.61 ERA in 10 appearances and eight starts throwing 36.2 innings allowing 46 hits, 31 earned runs, eight home runs, 24 walks, 29 strikeouts and a 1.909 WHIP. 

Gutierrez landed on the 60-day injured list with a first degree strain of his ulnar collateral ligament on June 4, 2022, and underwent Tommy John surgery on July 22, 2022, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season. 

In his two seasons with the Reds, Gutierrez has a 10-12 record with a career ERA at 5.44 throwing 150.2 innings in 32 appearances and 30 starts allowing 161 hits, 91 earned runs, 28 home runs, 70 walks, 117 strikeouts, and a 1.533 WHIP. 

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp will play their first game of the 2024 regular season at home against the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves on, March 29 at 7:05 p.m. EST at 121 Financial Ballpark. 

SS Darrell Hernaiz Makes Oakland Athletics Opening Day Roster – Shortstop Darrell Hernaiz made the 2024 regular season roster out of spring training, manager Mark Kotsay told reporter Jason Burke of Sportsnaut and Inside The A’s on March 25. 

Darell Hernaiz will be part of the Opening Day roster, per Kotsay.

— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) March 25, 2024

Hernaiz, 22, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, will make his MLB debut in 2024 after playing in 21 games during spring training and hitting .308 with 16 hits, one double, six RBI, two stolen bases, four walks, and nine strikeouts. 

Last season, Hernaiz played in 131 games between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas and batted .321 with 561 plate appearances recording 160 hits, 32 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 71 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 50 walks, 75 strikeouts, and a .841 OPS. 

Hernaiz was traded to the Athletics by the Baltimore Orioles on January 26, 2023 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Cole Irvin and right-handed pitcher Kyle Virbitsky. 

In 2022, Hernaiz split the year between Low-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen, and Double-A Bowie and batted .273  in 105 games with 452 plate appearances, smacking 111 hits, 21 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs, 62 RBI, swiping 32 bases, 35 walks, 81 strikeouts, and a .779 OPS. 

During his four seasons in the minor leagues, Hernaiz hit .291 playing in 359 games with 1,539 plate appearances smacking 400 hits, 67 doubles, 10 triples, 29 home runs, 193 RBI, 72 stolen bases, 130 walks, 252 strikeouts, and a .755 OPS. 

Hernaiz will likely be in a backup role behind shortstop Nick Allen and second baseman Zack Gelof during the 2024 season. 

The Oakland Athletics will play the Cleveland Guardians at home in their first game of the 2024 regular season on March 28 at 10:10 p.m. EST.