Eduard Bazardo

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Eduard Bazardo

|image =

|team = Seattle Mariners

|number = 83

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|9|1}}

|birth_place = Maracay, Venezuela

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 14

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Boston Red Sox

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 30, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 3–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.12

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 73

|teams =

Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2023}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

}}

Eduard Felix Bazardo (born September 1, 1995) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.

Career

=Boston Red Sox=

The Boston Red Sox signed Bazardo as an international free agent in July 2014 for $8,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.soxprospects.com/players/bazardo-eduard.htm |title=Eduard Bazardo |website=SoxProspects.com |access-date=November 20, 2020}}{{Cite web |title=Eduard Bazardo Baseball Statistics + Biography - The Baseball Cube |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/198339/#draft_instances |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=www.thebaseballcube.com}} He played for the Dominican Summer League (DSL) Red Sox in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, he played for DSL Red Sox before joining the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Red Sox in late June. He pitched solely as a starter in 2018, starting with the Low-A Lowell Spinners and being promoted to the Single-A Greenville Drive in early August. In 2019, he returned to the bullpen and again played at two levels, beginning the year with the High-A Salem Red Sox and advancing to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in mid-June. Through 2019, Bazardo compiled a record of 23–19 in 100 games, including 31 starts, with 10 saves in five minor-league seasons. He had a 2.55 ERA and 342 strikeouts in 310 innings pitched.

After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=June 28, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Bazardo pitched well in the Fall Instructional League.{{Cite web |title=Scouting Report Updates: Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, Eduard Bazardo and Raynel Espinal |url=http://news.soxprospects.com/2021/06/scouting-report-updates-garrett.html |access-date=November 22, 2024}} On November 20, 2020, he was added to Boston's 40-man roster.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/red-sox-dfa-ryan-weber-matt-hall-kyle-hart.html |title=Red Sox Add 7 Players To 40-Man Roster; Weber, Hall Designated For Assignment |first=Steve |last=Adams |website=mlbtraderumors.com |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2020}} Bazardo was assigned to the team's alternate training site prior to the start of the 2021 season. On April 14, 2021, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time for a scheduled doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/04 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=April 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} He made his MLB debut that day, pitching a scoreless inning of relief.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-twins/2021/04/14/632223#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=632223 |title=Red Sox 7, Twins 1 |website=MLB.com |date=April 14, 2021 |accessdate=April 14, 2021}} He returned to alternate site the next day. On May 12, Bazardo again joined the Red Sox for one day, pitching two scoreless innings before being sent down to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-nick-pivetta-lands-on-covid-il/ |title=Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Lands on COVID IL |website=CBS Sports |date=May 12, 2021 |accessdate=May 12, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/05/boston-red-sox-activate-nick-pivetta-who-will-likely-start-friday-reliever-eduardo-bazardo-sent-back-to-woosox.html |title=Boston Red Sox activate Nick Pivetta, who will likely start Friday; reliever Eduard Bazardo sent back to WooSox |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |website=MassLive.com |date=May 13, 2021 |accessdate=May 14, 2021}} On July 5, he recalled to the Red Sox and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/minor-mlb-transactions-7-5-21.html|title = Minor MLB Transactions: 7/5/21}} He started a rehabilitation assignment with the Florida Complex League Red Sox on August 13,{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/08 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=August 2021 |accessdate=August 13, 2021}} was optioned to Worcester Red Sox on September 13 and recalled to Boston on September 26.{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2021 |title=Red Sox's Eduard Bazardo: Recalled from Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-eduard-bazardo-recalled-from-triple-a/ |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} He did not pitch for the Red Sox in his final stint with the team in 2021 and was optioned back to Worcester on October 3, after the end of the regular season.{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2021 |title=Red Sox To Activate Garrett Whitlock |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/10/red-sox-to-activate-garrett-whitlock.html |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} In the 2021 regular season, Bazardo pitched twice for Boston, allowing no runs in three innings pitched, striking out three batters. With Worcester, he appeared in 11 games and registered three saves while pitching to an 8.74 ERA and striking out 12 batters in {{frac|11|1|3}} innings.

Bazardo was designated for assignment on April 7, 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-eduard-bazardo-designated-for-assignment/ |title=Red Sox's Eduard Bazardo: Designated for assignment |website=CBS Sports |date=April 7, 2022 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Worcester.{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/04/boston-red-sox-roster-eduard-bazardo-clears-waivers-outrighted-to-worcester.html |title=Boston Red Sox roster: Eduard Bazardo clears waivers, outrighted to Worcester |first=Christopher |last=Smith |website=masslive.com |date=April 10, 2022 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}} In 37 games (including 4 starts) for Worcester, he had a 2–4 record and a 3.45 ERA.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bazard000edu |title=Eduard Bazardo Minor Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 14, 2022}} On September 1, when MLB active rosters by 2 players, Bazardo's contract was selected from Triple-A.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-promote-connor-wong-eduard-bazardo-as-september-call-ups/ar-AA11mYDo |title=Red Sox promote Connor Wong, Eduard Bazardo as September call-ups |website=CBS Boston |via=MSN.com |date=September 1, 2022 |accessdate=September 2, 2022}} On October 5, Bazardo earned his first career win after tossing a scoreless fifth inning in a 6–3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox finish 2022 season with sweep of Rays at Fenway Park|url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/red-sox-rays-mlb-recap-october-5-2022/41537595|access-date=June 28, 2023|website=wcvb.com|language=en}} In 12 games for Boston, all in relief, Bazardo registered one win and a 2.76 ERA and 11 strikeouts in {{frac|16|1|3}} innings.{{citation |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bazared01.shtml |title=Eduard Bazardo Stats |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 14, 2022}} On October 13, he was again designated for assignment.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/red-sox-claim-jake-reed-designate-eduard-bazardo.html|title=Red Sox Claim Jake Reed, Designate Eduard Bazardo|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Darragh|last=McDonald|date=October 13, 2022|accessdate=October 13, 2022}} Four days later, he elected free agency.{{cite tweet |user=RedSox |number=1582085391590469632 |title=The #RedSox today outrighted RHP Eduard Bazardo off the Major League roster. He has elected to become a free agent. |date=October 17, 2022 |accessdate=October 17, 2022}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On December 19, 2022, Bazardo signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/orioles/roster/transactions/2022/12 |title=Orioles Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=December 2022 |accessdate=December 19, 2022}} He began the 2023 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, pitching in 24 games and posting a 3.51 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 2 saves in {{fraction|33|1|3}} innings pitched. On July 5, the Orioles added Bazardo to their major league roster.{{cite news |title=Orioles roster moves |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-orioles-roster-moves-7-5-2023 |access-date=July 31, 2023 |publisher=MLB.com |date=July 5, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Orioles promote outfield prospect Colton Cowser to major leagues |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/37964593/orioles-promote-outfield-prospect-colton-cowser-major-leagues |access-date=July 31, 2023 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=July 5, 2023}} He struggled in his three games with the Orioles, allowing 4 runs in {{fraction|2|1|3}} innings, before being sent down to Norfolk on July 17.{{Cite web |title=Eduard Bazardo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/eduard-bazardo-660825 |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On July 30, Bazardo was designated for assignment as the Orioles promoted Joey Krehbiel.{{cite news |title=Orioles demote struggling righty Tyler Wells to Double-A |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38102009/orioles-demote-struggling-righty-tyler-wells-double-a |access-date=July 31, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=July 30, 2023}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On August 1, 2023, Bazardo was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Logan Rinehart.{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2023 |title=Mariners Acquire Eduard Bazardo |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/08/mariners-acquire-eduard-bazardo.html |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He joined the Tacoma Rainiers after the trade but was on the Mariners roster two times, from August 17 to 22 then again from September 10 until the end of the season. He pitched in 9 games for the Mariners, with a 2.63 ERA and 14 strikeouts in {{Fraction|13|2|3}} innings.

Bazardo again split time between the majors and Triple-A in 2024, getting the most major league action of his career so far. He was 2–0 with a 4.88 ERA and 33 strikeouts in {{Fraction|27|2|3}} innings. He was mostly a mop-up pitcher, having the third lowest average leverage index of any MLB pitcher.{{Cite web |title=Major League Leaderboards - 2024 - Pitching |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&type=3&season=2024&month=0&season1=2024&ind=0&sortcol=7&sortdir=asc&qual=20&pagenum=1 |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=FanGraphs Baseball |language=en}} His performance in Tacoma was similar, with a 4.29 ERA in 21 innings.

Personal life

Bazardo's older brother Yorman Bazardo pitched in MLB in 2005 and from 2007–2009.{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/04/boston-red-sox-roster-strike-throwing-machine-eduard-bazardo-added-as-27th-man-for-doubleheader.html |title=Boston Red Sox roster: 'Strike-throwing machine' Eduard Bazardo added as 27th man for doubleheader |first= Christopher |last=Smith |website=masslive.com |date=April 14, 2021 |accessdate=April 14, 2021}}