Kelvin Gutiérrez

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Kelvin Gutiérrez

|image = Kelvin Gutierrez (46687675565) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Gutiérrez with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2019

|team = Conspiradores de Querétaro

|number = 39

|position = Third baseman

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|8|28}}

|birth_place = San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 27

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Kansas City Royals

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .228

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 4

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 34

|teams =

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Kelvin Manuel Gutiérrez (born August 28, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball third basemen for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles.

Career

=Washington Nationals=

Gutiérrez was signed out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent by the Washington Nationals organization on April 10, 2013. While signed as a shortstop, the Nationals moved him to third base as his primary position. He made his professional debut in 2013 with the DSL Nationals, batting .255 in 60 games. In 2014, he played for the GCL Nationals where he compiled a .286 batting average with 25 RBIs in 53 games, and in 2015, he played for the Auburn Doubledays where he slashed .305/.358/.414 with one home run and 30 RBIs in 62 games. He spent 2016 with the Hagerstown Suns where he batted .300/.349/.406 with three home runs, 48 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 96 games. He also played in ten games for the Potomac Nationals at the end of the season.

In 2017, Baseball America ranked him as having the best infield arm in the Nationals organization.{{cite news|url=http://www.insidenova.com/sports/potomac-nationals-announce-roster/article_800528b4-194b-11e7-9441-5b492473a427.html|agency=InsideNoVA|title=Potomac Nationals announce 2017 roster|date=April 4, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2017}} He was assigned to Potomac to begin the 2017 season. After ranking as the Nationals' 26th-best prospect midway through the 2016 season,{{cite news|url=http://washington.cbslocal.com/2016/06/19/prospects-heating-up-in-nationals-farm-system/|first=Brian|last=Tinsman|access-date=July 25, 2017|date=June 19, 2016|agency=CBS DC|title=Prospects Heating Up in Nationals' Farm System}} Gutiérrez catapulted to the 12th spot in the system by mid-2017, according to MLB Pipeline.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2017|work=MLB.com|title=2017 Prospect Watch|access-date=July 25, 2017|archive-date=July 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712163022/http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=was|url-status=live}} He was named to participate in the Carolina League All-Star Game in 2017,{{cite news|url=https://districtondeck.com/2017/06/26/washington-nationals-potomac-nationals-midseason-update/|agency=District on Deck|title=Washington Nationals: Potomac Nationals midseason update|first=Ricky|last=Keeler|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2017}} although he was unable to play due to an injury suffered June 9 while running the bases.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/nationals-buzz/2017/06/luke-erickson-a-look-at-the-potomac-nationals-at-the-half.html|agency=MASN Sports|title=A look at the Potomac Nationals at the half|first=Luke|last=Erickson|date=June 28, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2017}} He spent all of 2017 with Potomac, hitting .288 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in only 58 games due to injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=642721#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Kelvin Gutierrez Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=June 18, 2018}} After the 2017 season ended, Gutiérrez played for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League, leading the team in hitting with a .350 average. The Nationals added Gutiérrez to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/masn-news-information/2017/11/nationals-add-two-players-to-40-man-roster.html|title=Nationals add two players to 40-man roster|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=November 20, 2017|agency=MASN Sports}} He began 2018 with the Harrisburg Senators of the Class AA Eastern League.

=Kansas City Royals=

On June 18, 2018, the Nationals traded Gutiérrez, Blake Perkins, and Yohanse Morel to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Kelvin Herrera.{{cite web|author=Makenzie Koch |url=http://fox4kc.com/2018/06/18/royals-trade-all-star-pitcher-kelvin-herrera-to-nationals-for-3-minor-league-players/ |title=Royals trade All-Star pitcher Kelvin Herrera to Nationals for 3 minor league players | FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports |work=FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports |publisher=Fox4kc.com |date=June 18, 2018 |access-date=August 19, 2018}} Gutiérrez began the 2019 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League. After batting .333 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 18 games for Omaha, he made his major league debut on April 27, 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article229767599.html |title=Kansas City |access-date=2019-04-28 |archive-date=2019-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428055259/https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article229767599.html |url-status=dead }} For his rookie season, Gutiérrez batted .260/.394/.356 in 20 games.

Overall with the 2020 Kansas City Royals, Gutiérrez batted .111 with no home runs and 0 RBIs in 4 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/kelvin-gutierrez-642721?stats=career-r-hitting-mlb&year=2020|title=Kelvin Gutierrez Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}}

After beginning the 2021 season with Triple-A Omaha, Gutiérrez was recalled on May 14 for the second game of a doubleheader, after third baseman Hunter Dozier was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31445522/kansas-city-royals-3b-hunter-dozier-il-chicago-white-sox-1b-jose-abreu-day-day-collision |title=Kansas City Royals 3B Hunter Dozier to IL, Chicago White Sox 1B Jose Abreu day-to-day after collision |work=ESPN |first=Jesse |last=Rogers |date=May 14, 2021}} He was used as a pinch-hitter that night, and received his first start at third base the following night.{{cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article251443823.html |title=Royals' Kelvin Gutierrez happy to join the big club despite a hectic travel schedule |work=The Kansas City Star |first=Lynn |last=Worthy |date=May 15, 2021}} Gutiérrez started the next 10 games at third base, batting .270, and continued to be the starter upon Dozier's activation from the injured list on May 28.{{cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article251759148.html |title=Dozier returns to the Kansas City Royals' lineup on Friday night. Staumont to the IL |work=The Kansas City Star |first=Lynn |last=Worthy |date=May 28, 2021}} However, he hit just .194 in his next 27 games, and was designated for assignment on June 28.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/royals-dfa-kelvin-gutierrez-promote-emmanuel-rivera.html |title=Royals Designate Kelvin Gutierrez For Assignment, Select Emmanuel Rivera |work=MLB Trade Rumors |first=Steve |last=Adams |date=June 28, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-kelvin-gutierrez-designated-for-assignment/ |title=Royals' Kelvin Gutierrez: Designated for assignment |work=CBS Sports |date=June 28, 2021}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On July 3, 2021, Gutiérrez was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations and assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/orioles-acquire-kelvin-gutierrez-from-royals-for-cash-considerations.html |title=Orioles Acquire Kelvin Gutierrez From Royals for Cash Considerations |work=MLB Trade Rumors |first=TC |last=Zencka |date=July 3, 2021}} On July 7, he made his Orioles debut against the Toronto Blue Jays as a pinch hitter, drawing a walk, and became the first player in franchise history to wear the number 82. Gutiérrez played in 47 games for Baltimore down the stretch as their primary third baseman, batting .248/.327/.336 with 2 home runs and 12 RBI.

Gutiérrez made Baltimore's Opening Day roster in 2022, serving as a reserve infielder while Ramón Urías handled the lion's share of work at third base.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-kelvin-gutierrez-may-begin-season-as-reserve/|title=Orioles' Kelvin Gutierrez: May begin season as reserve|website=CBSSports.com|date=30 March 2022 |accessdate=4 March 2023}} After struggling to a .143/.250/.179 slash with no home runs and 3 RBI in 12 contests, he was designated for assignment on May 2, 2022 when active rosters shrank from 28 to 26.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-kelvin-gutierrez-designated-for-assignment/|title=Orioles' Kelvin Gutierrez: Designated for assignment|website=CBSSports.com|date=2 May 2022 |accessdate=4 March 2023}} On May 6, Gutiérrez cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk.{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Kelvin Gutierrez: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-kelvin-gutierrez-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=2023-02-07|website=cbssports.com|date=6 May 2022 |language=en}} Gutiérrez was released by the Orioles on September 15, 2022.[https://www.milb.com/transactions/2022-09-15 Thursday, September 15, 2022 Transactions – MiLB.com.] Retrieved February 28, 2023.

=Pericos de Puebla=

On May 9, 2023, Gutiérrez signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League.{{cite web|url=https://pericosdepuebla.com/kelvin-gutierrez-se-une-al-nido-verde/|title=Kelvin Gutiérrez se une al nido verde|website=pericosdepuebla.com|date=May 9, 2023 |language=ES|access-date=May 9, 2023}} In 18 games, he batted .210/.250/.323 with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs. Gutiérrez was released on June 2.{{Cite web|title=Kelvin Gutiérrez Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/kelvin-gutierrez-642721|access-date=June 2, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}}

=Conspiradores de Querétaro=

On March 4, 2024, Gutiérrez signed with the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 4 de marzo de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-4-de-marzo-de-2024|access-date=March 5, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 87 appearances for México, he batted .333/.408/.495 with 11 home runs, 70 RBI, and six stolen bases.