The Cincinnati Reds have recently made a transaction by acquiring the services of right-handed pitcher Yosver Zulueta from the Toronto Blue Jays. This move, reported by Francys Romero, indicates that the Reds claimed Zulueta off waivers. As part of the roster adjustment, Cincinnati placed Matt McLain on the 60-day injured list and sent Zulueta down to Triple-A to accommodate the addition to the 40-man roster.
Originally hailing from Cuba, Yosver Zulueta is a 26-year-old pitcher who made his way to the United States in 2020. However, his debut year was marred by a period of recovery from Tommy John surgery. Despite returning to action in 2021, his playing time was limited to just one minor league appearance with Toronto’s Single-A team in Dunedin. Unfortunately, Zulueta’s comeback was cut short when he suffered an ACL tear while covering first base during his only inning on the mound.
The following year, in 2022, Zulueta showcased his versatility by alternating between starting and relieving roles across all four levels of full-season minor league baseball. Across 55.2 innings, he maintained a respectable 3.72 ERA. Moving into the 2023 season, Zulueta spent the entirety of his time with Triple-A Buffalo, where he recorded a 4.08 ERA over 38 relief outings and seven starts. Despite only conceding one home run over 64.0 innings, his command wavered as evidenced by his 45 walks and 10 hit batters, although he managed to strike out 73 batters.
Spring training proved to be a challenging period for Zulueta as he struggled to find his form. Despite appearing in only five games, he conceded six earned runs over 5.0 innings, yielding seven hits and four walks while striking out just two of the 25 batters he faced.
Known for his high-velocity pitches, Zulueta boasts an average fastball velocity of 96 MPH with both his 2-seamer and 4-seamer. Additionally, he incorporates a changeup, slider, and curveball into his repertoire. However, recent trends indicate a shift towards relying more heavily on his fastball variations and slider, with decreased utilization of his changeup and curveball.
Despite his potential, Zulueta has faced challenges with control throughout his career, which could limit his effectiveness. Nevertheless, his ability to induce ground balls combined with his capacity to generate strikeouts suggests untapped potential if he can refine his command.
Contractually, Zulueta remains under team control for at least six seasons and has yet to make his Major League Baseball debut. Additionally, he possesses two remaining option years, including the current season, providing flexibility for roster management and player development.