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Cuban RHP Vladimir Gutierrez Designated For Assignment After One Bullpen Appearance

Matt TallariniApr 1, 20244 MIN READ
Cuban RHP Vladimir Gutierrez Designated For Assignment After One Bullpen Appearance

Vladimir Gutierrez throws a pitch during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at loanDepot park to open the 2024 season (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Cuban right-handed pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez was designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins on April 1 after his bullpen appearance, Isaac Azout of Fish On First reported following Sunday’s 9-7 loss in 10 innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The Marlins selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Kent Emanuel from Triple-A Jacksonville during this corresponding move. 

No other announcements have been made on whether Guitterez will be in Triple-A Jacksonville with the Marlins organization.

Guiterrez came into Sunday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the sixth inning with a 6-4 lead and recorded a blown save. He pitched four innings, allowing three hits, three earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. 

He allowed a three-run home run to Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, giving Pittsburgh a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh inning and sweeping the Marlins in their four-game road series.  

On March 31, Azout of Fish On First reported that the Marlins selected the contract of Cuban right-handed pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez and optioned right-handed pitcher Declan Cronin to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Francys Romero of beisbolfr.com reported on March 27 that Gutierrez did not make the opening day roster and was sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville before their first game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 28. 

The Marlins have not yet listed that Guiterrez has been officially called up to the organization on the transaction page. He signed a minor league contract with the Marlins on February 22. 

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

Guiterrez went 1-1 during spring training with six appearances and one start, recorded one save, posted a 3.60 ERA throwing 10 innings, allowing 12 hits, four earned runs, two home runs, four walks, nine strikeouts, and a 1.600 WHIP. 

Gutierrez began his journey to play in MLB after leaving the 2015 Caribbean Series in February with the 2014-15 Cuban Serie Nacional champion Vegueros de Pinar del Río, and shortly after, he made his way to Mexico to establish residency until he was declared a free agent by the league’s commissioners office on July 7, 2015. 

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

Gutierrez played in two games and started one game at the Arizona Complex Level in 2023 with the Reds. He pitched 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. He pitched 36.2 innings, allowing 46 hits, 31 earned runs, eight home runs, 24 walks, 29 strikeouts, and a 1.909 WHIP. 

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

In the 2021 season, Gutierrez threw 114 innings in 22 starts, posting a 9-6 record with a 4.74 ERA. He allowed 115 hits, 60 earned runs, 20 home runs, 46 walks, 88 strikeouts, and a 1.412 WHIP. 

Gutierrez also pitched for Triple-A Louisville in 2021 and made three starts. He posted a 2-0 record with a 2.65 ERA and pitched 17 innings, allowing nine hits, five earned runs, three home runs, seven walks, 21 strikeouts, and a 0.941 WHIP. 

Gutierrez has a 10-12 record in his two seasons with the Reds and a lifetime ERA of 5.44. He has thrown 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. 

According to Baseball Savant, Guierrez’s fastball is 92.7 mph with an 18.8 whiff percentage, and his slider is 82.8 mph with a 54.5 whiff percentage. 

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker will have to evaluate Gutierrez’s situation if the organization chooses to bring him back. 

The Marlins pitching staff is beaten up to start the 2024 season, with Braxton Garrett, Edward Cabrera, and Eury Pérez on the 15-day injured list.  

Guiterrez will have to show 29 franchises an opportunistic role in the bullpen or starting rotation if he wants to have a spot during the 2024 season to be on a Major League active roster.

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