On Friday, April 5, the Milwaukee Brewers achieved a favorable outcome by securing Vladimir Gutierrez through a waiver claim. They are well acquainted with him, given his past affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds as a pitcher. Following the claim, he was sent to Triple-A Nashville.
Vladimir Gutierrez was claimed off of waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.
In 2024, Vladimir Gutierrez began his baseball journey with the Miami Marlins, initially signing a minor league contract. He was later elevated to the 40-man roster to address their pitching needs but was subsequently designated for assignment after pitching three innings.
Before his stint with the Marlins, Gutierrez had a lengthy tenure with the Cincinnati Reds. He was scouted and signed from Cuba by the Reds, debuting in Major League Baseball in 2021. His first season saw him achieve a 4.74 ERA over 22 starts. However, the following year proved challenging as he struggled with a 7.61 ERA across 10 appearances before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entirety of the 2023 MLB season.
How has Vladimir Gutierrez fared against the Milwaukee Brewers?
In 2021, Vladimir Gutierrez posed a significant challenge for the Milwaukee Brewers when he faced them as a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Across three starts, he pitched a total of 19 innings and only allowed five earned runs, proving to be a formidable opponent.
However, the following year, Gutierrez couldn’t replicate the same level of success against the Brewers. In consecutive starts in May, he struggled, surrendering a total of 11 earned runs over nine innings pitched.
How has Vladimir Gutierrez looked over a year out from tommy john surgery?
According to Baseball Savant, Vladimir Gutierrez maintained an average fastball velocity of 93 MPH during his tenure with the Miami Marlins in 2024, which aligns with his fastball averages from both the 2022 and 2021 seasons. Alongside his fastball, Gutierrez also utilizes a slider, changeup, and curveball in his pitching arsenal.
Heading into the 2024 season, the Milwaukee Brewers find themselves with a sparse starting pitching roster. Acquiring Vladimir Gutierrez serves as a strategic move to bolster their pitching depth, offering them short-term stability and an additional option should the need arise.
