Vladimir Gutiérrez

{{Infobox MLB player

|name=Vladimir Gutiérrez

|image=Vladimir Gutiérrez 6.19.21 (cropped).jpg

|caption=Gutiérrez with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021

|team=Pericos de Puebla

|number=53

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1995|9|18}}

|birth_place=Pinar del Rio, Cuba

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 28

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = March 31, 2024

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 10–12

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 5.47

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 121

|teams =

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2024}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|CUB}}}}

{{MedalBronze | 2013 Taichung | Team}}}}

Vladimir Gutiérrez Rodríguez (born September 18, 1995) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins.

Career

=Cuban career=

Gutiérrez played for the Cuba national baseball team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.diariodecuba.com/deportes/1415228627_11147.html|title=Yulieski Gourriel y Alfredo Despaigne lideran el equipo cubano que irá a los Juegos de Veracruz|work=Diario de Cuba |access-date=January 5, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cubanews.acn.cu/|title=Swiss organizations demand the end of the US blockade against Cuba and the subordination of their Banks|website=Agencia Cubana de Noticias}} He played in the Cuban National Series for the Vegueros de Pinar del Río and was the Rookie of the Year for the 2013–2014 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.granma.cu/deportes/2014-04-22/vladimir-gutierrez-va-por-mas|title=Vladimir Gutiérrez va por más|date=April 22, 2014 |access-date=January 5, 2017}} Gutierrez was selected to represent his country in an international tournament but left his Pinar del Rio team during the Caribbean Series in February 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He made his way to Mexico, where he eventually established residency in May. Major League Baseball declared him to be a free agent on July 7, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/02/04/cubans-playing-in-caribbean-series-defect-dainer-moreira-vladimir-gutierrez/22836253/|title=Two Cubans playing in Caribbean Series defect|website=USA Today|access-date=January 5, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.martinoticias.com/content/cuba-beisbol-desercion-serie-del-caribe-vladimir-gutierrez-dainer-moreira-pinar-del-rio/85874.html|title=Dos peloteros abandonan delegación cubana en Puerto Rico|first=Bobby Jr.|last=Salamanca|date=February 4, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.diariodecuba.com/deportes/1423037623_12692.html|title=Se fugan en Puerto Rico los peloteros Dainer Moreira y Vladimir Gutiérrez|work=Diario de Cuba |access-date=January 5, 2017}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

On August 30, 2016, Gutiérrez signed with the Cincinnati Reds for $4.75 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-sign-cuban-pitcher-vladimir-gutierrez-c198542804|title=Reds sign Cuban pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez|website=MLB.com|access-date=January 5, 2017}} He made his professional debut in 2017 for the Daytona Tortugas and spent the whole season there, going 7–8 with a 4.46 ERA in 19 starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/vladimir-gutierrez-661269|title=Vladimir Gutierrez Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 19, 2018}} He pitched for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 2018{{cite web|last=Horton |first=Josh |url=https://www.milb.com/news/vladimir-gutierrez-does-it-all-for-pensacola-blue-wahoos-293639062 |title=Vladimir Gutierrez does it all for Pensacola Blue Wahoos |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=September 6, 2018 |access-date=May 28, 2021}} and the Louisville Bats in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wave3.com/2019/08/19/bats-gutierrez-named-il-pitcher-week/|title = Bats Gutierrez named IL Pitcher of the Week| date=August 19, 2019 }}

On June 28, 2020, Gutiérrez was suspended 80 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. On November 20, 2020, Gutiérrez was added to the 40-man roster.{{cite web|author=Steve Adams|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/astros-trade-brandon-bailey-reds.html |title=Reds Acquire Brandon Bailey From Astros |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 20, 2020 |accessdate=May 28, 2021}}

On April 25, 2021, Gutiérrez was activated off the restricted list and assigned to the alternate training site.{{cite web|author=Mark Polishuk |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/minor-mlb-transactions-42521.html |title=Minor MLB Transactions: 4/25/21 |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=April 26, 2021 |accessdate=May 28, 2021}} On May 28, Gutiérrez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time to be the starting pitcher against the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/05/25/cincinnati-reds-prospect-vladimir-gutierrez-make-mlb-debut-vs-cubs/7439103002|title=Cincinnati Reds prospect Vladimir Gutierrez to make MLB debut vs. Cubs|date=May 25, 2021|last=Nightengale|first=Bobby|publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer|work=cincinnati.com|accessdate=May 28, 2021}} In his debut, Gutiérrez took the loss after pitching 5.0 innings of 2-hit ball, one of the two hits being a solo home run from Cubs infielder David Bote. He also notched his first strikeout in the game, punching out Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. In his rookie campaign, Gutiérrez was 9–6 over 22 starts, posting a 4.74 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 114 innings. Gutiérrez received a single vote in National League Rookie of the Year voting, tying him for eighth place with David Bednar.{{cite web |title=2021 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2021.shtml#all_NL_ROY_voting |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=16 November 2021 |language=en}}

In 2022, Gutiérrez made 10 appearances (8 starts) for the Reds, struggling to a 1–6 record and 7.61 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 36.2 innings of work. In June, Gutiérrez suffered a first degree strain of his ulnar collateral ligament, and underwent Tommy John surgery on July 22. The procedure subsequently ended his 2022 season.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Vladimir Gutierrez: Undergoes Tommy John surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-vladimir-gutierrez-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery/|access-date=2023-02-19|website=cbssports.com|date=July 22, 2022 |language=en}}

Gutiérrez began the 2023 season on the injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery. On July 28, 2023, he began a rehab assignment with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Reds.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Vladimir Gutierrez: Cleared for rehab assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-vladimir-gutierrez-cleared-for-rehab-assignment/|access-date=October 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=July 28, 2023 |language=en}} In mid–August, Gutiérrez advanced his rehab to the Triple–A Louisville Bats.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Vladimir Gutierrez: Advances rehab to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-vladimir-gutierrez-advances-rehab-to-triple-a/|access-date=October 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 6, 2023 |language=en}} However, shortly after on August 17, he was pulled off of rehab assignment, and did not appear for Cincinnati during the year.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Vladimir Gutierrez: May be nursing injury|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-vladimir-gutierrez-may-be-nursing-injury/|access-date=October 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 17, 2023 |language=en}} On October 9, Gutiérrez was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Louisville.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Vladimir Gutierrez: Jettisoned from 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-vladimir-gutierrez-jettisoned-from-40-man-roster/|access-date=October 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=October 9, 2023 |language=en}} He elected free agency on October 26.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-10-26|title=Transactions|website=Minor League Baseball}}

=Miami Marlins=

On February 22, 2024, Gutiérrez signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/marlins-vladimir-gutierrez-agree-to-minor-league-contract.html|title=Marlins, Vladimir Gutierrez Agree To Minor League Contract|date=February 22, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} On March 31, his contract was selected to the active roster.{{Cite web|title=Marlins' Vladimir Gutierrez: Contract selected|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-vladimir-gutierrez-contract-selected/amp/|access-date=March 31, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He pitched in that day's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing three runs on three hits and four strikeouts in four innings pitched. The next day, Gutiérrez was designated for assignment by Miami.{{Cite web|title=Marlins Select Kent Emanuel, Designate Vladimir Gutierrez|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/marlins-select-kent-emanuel-dfa-vladimir-gutierrez.html|access-date=April 1, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 2024 |language=en}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On April 5, 2024, Gutiérrez was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.{{Cite web|title=Brewers' Vladimir Gutierrez: Claimed by Milwaukee|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-vladimir-gutierrez-claimed-by-milwaukee/amp/|date=April 5, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He made two appearances for the Triple–A Nashville Sounds, struggling to a 13.50 ERA across {{fraction|4|2|3}} innings. On April 17, Gutiérrez was designated for assignment by Milwaukee.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Select Tobias Myers, Designate Vladimir Gutierrez For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/brewers-select-tobias-myers-designate-vladimir-gutierrez-for-assignment.html|access-date=April 17, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 17, 2024 |language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On April 18, 2024, Gutiérrez was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=Brewers Trade Vladimir Gutierrez To Red Sox |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/brewers-trade-vladimir-gutierrez-red-sox.html |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He made three appearances for the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox before he was designated for assignment by Boston on May 1.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox Designate Vladimir Gutierrez For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/red-sox-designate-vladimir-gutierrez-for-assignment.html|access-date=May 1, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 2024 |language=en}} Gutiérrez cleared waivers and was sent outright to Worcester on May 6.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox Outright Vladimir Gutierrez, Pablo Reyes|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/red-sox-outright-vladimir-gutierrez-pablo-reyes.html|access-date=May 6, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 6, 2024 |language=en}} In five appearances for Worcester, he struggled to a 9.00 ERA with eight strikeouts across eight innings. On May 26, Gutiérrez was released by the Red Sox organization.{{Cite web|title=Vladimir Gutierrez: Let go by Boston|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/vladimir-gutierrez-let-go-by-boston/|date=May 26, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Pericos de Puebla=

On June 8, 2024, Gutiérrez signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 16 de junio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-16-de-junio-de-2024|access-date=June 17, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} In 8 starts for Puebla, he posted a 4–2 record and 5.40 ERA with 39 strikeouts over 40 innings of work.