Who is Yosver Zulueta? Cuban pitcher impresses in relief for Cincinnati Reds

For Reds fans, Cincinnati's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 25 was one they'd just as soon forget.

For relief pitcher Yosver Zulueta, it was a night he'll never forget.

The Cuban-born Zulueta struck out four in three innings of relief in his Major League Baseball debut.

He returned to Triple-A Louisville to make room on the Reds' roster for starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft, but he was recalled July 8 and made his second big-league appearance with a scoreless 9th inning in the Reds' 6-0 win against Colorado on Monday.

Bally Sports Ohio analyst and National Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin called Zulueta's big-league debut "outstanding."

"Zulueta has shown an electric fastball and really tight slider," Larkin said during Tuesday's broadcast. "I think the thing that has been most impressive is this moment does not seem to be too big for him at all. Another great major-league debut."

"Obviously, he's talented. He has a really great sinker," Reds manager David Bell said of Zulueta after the game. "He throws hard. Good movement on his pitches. Probably the most impressive thing, you know, he walks the first two hitters. And just stayed with it and kept his composure. That's what he's been doing in Triple-A. He's done a nice job there of finding that, continuing to get better. The staff at Triple-A has been doing a really nice job of helping him develop. Because he's had the talent, and it's kind of all coming together now, so that was exciting to see him. Really happy for him, to turn it around that quick after the first two hitters."

What to know about the 26-year-old Zulueta, whose first name is pronounced YOZ-ver:

Zulueta's path to the majors since leaving Cuba in 2018 hasn't been easy.

Zulueta underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, shortly after leaving Cuba to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays for $1 million.

He didn't play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A knee injury sidelined Zulueta in 2021, when he faced just one batter for the Dunedin Blue Jays.

In 2022, he started posting big strikeout numbers: 23 in 12 innings for Dunedin; 31 in 23 2/3 at High-A Vancouver; and 25 in 15 1/3 innings at Double-A New Hampshire.

While walks have been an issue in the minors, home runs have not. He allowed just one HR in 64 innings at Triple-A Buffalo in 2023. And he allowed just one HR in 30 2/3 innings at Louisville before his promotion.

The Reds claimed Zulueta off waivers in March.

Zulueta posted a 2.93 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 20 walks in his 23 appearances for Louisville.

His fastball regularly was clocked at 98 miles per hour for the Bats.

Over his last 10 1/3 innings for the Bats (since May 31), Zulueta didn't allow a run while striking out 16 and walking just three.

Bally Sports Ohio play-by-play announcer John Sadak said during Tuesday's broadcast that Zulueta posted a groundball rate of better than 60 percent during the stretch.

Zulueta made seven starts for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate last season, but none for Louisville this season.

The Reds used Zulueta exclusively in relief for the Bats, including five games he finished.

Of the 21 appearances Zulueta made in 2022 for four different Blue Jays' minor-league teams, 12 were starts.

Per Baseball-Reference.com, Zulueta allowed just four homers in a total of 150 1/3 minor-league innings over three seasons.

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