William Cuevas
Cuevas with the Portland Sea Dogs in 2015
KT Wiz – No. 32
Pitcher
Born: (1990-10-14) October 14, 1990
Turmero, Aragua, Venezuela
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 21, 2016, for the Boston Red Sox
KBO: March 23, 2019, for the KT Wiz
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record0–3
Earned run average8.06
Strikeouts24
KBO statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record45–23
Earned run average3.64
Strikeouts490
Teams
Career highlights and awards

William Enrique Cuevas Osorio [kway'-vahss / oh-so'-re-o] (born October 14, 1990) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg), Cuevas throws right-handed and is a switch hitter. He has played for the Colombia national baseball team.

Career

Path to the majors

Cuevas was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in July 2008. He spent two-and-a-half seasons with the DSL Red Sox spanning 2009–2011, before joining the GCL rookie team late in 2011. He then was promoted to the Class A Short Season Lowell Spinners in 2012, and played with them for the entire season.[1]

Cuevas emerged during his first season with Lowell, as he posted eight wins and two losses in 77⅓ innings of work, striking out 72 batters while walking only 15 for a solid 4.80 SO/BB ratio. He also set a Spinners record for the lowest earned run average (ERA) in a regular season, as his 1.40 ERA bested the 1.50 mark set by Kyle Weiland in 2008.[2] In addition, Cuevas ranked in the top of several statistical categories in the New York–Penn League, tying for first in wins, for second both in ERA and innings, and for third in strikeouts.[3]

Cuevas was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Salem Red Sox in 2013 but struggled for most of the year. He posted an 8–9 record and a 5.05 ERA in 26 starts, while striking out 109 and walking 40 in 135⅓ innings.[1] He returned to Salem in 2014, but spent two stints on the disabled list, including one that lasted roughly a month. He then went 2–6 with a 4.70 ERA in 24 appearances (10 starts), including 80 strikeouts and 32 walks in 95⅓ innings.[1]

Cuevas gained a promotion to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in 2015, where he was used strictly as a starter and had a solid season, becoming one of five Sea Dogs players selected for the Eastern League All-Star team.[4] Overall, he was 8–5 with a 3.40 ERA in 19 starts for Portland, including 91 strikeouts and 41 walks in 95⅓ innings. He then joined the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in early August,[1] and ended his season on a high note. Cuevas went 3–2 with a 2.63 ERA in seven starts for Pawtucket, striking out 37 and walking 14 in 41 innings. As a result, he completed his seventh season in the Sox farm system setting career highs in wins (11), innings pitched (136⅓) and strikeouts (128), tying for the most wins in the system while ending second in strikeouts and seventh in innings.[5]

Boston Red Sox

Cuevas started the 2016 season with Triple-A Pawtucket. He was selected by the Red Sox and added to their 40-man roster on April 20.[6] He made his MLB debut the next day, pitching 2+1⁄3 innings of relief against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up three hits and two runs while taking the loss.[7] He made two other appearances with Boston during the season, both in June. Overall, with the 2016 Red Sox, Cuevas made three appearances with a 3.60 ERA in five innings pitched, striking out three and walking six. He also pitched 25 games (18 starts) with Pawtucket, compiling a 6–8 record with 4.19 ERA in 131 innings pitched. He became a free agent after the season on November 7.[8]

Detroit Tigers

On November 19, 2016, Cuevas signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[9] The Tigers purchased Cuevas's contract on April 13, 2017, adding him to their active roster.[10] He made his only appearance with the Tigers the next day, pitching 1⁄3 of an inning against the Cleveland Indians, allowing four runs on three hits.[11] He declined an outright assignment to Triple-A on June 1, 2017, and elected free agency.[12]

Miami Marlins

On June 7, 2017, Cuevas signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.[13] He played for the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes, appearing in 15 games (11 starts) with a 2–7 record and 5.43 ERA. Cuevas elected free agency on November 6, 2017.[14]

Second stint with Boston

In January 2018, Cuevas signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox.[15] He was assigned to Triple-A and made 15 appearances (all starts) with Pawtucket through July 1, compiling a 5–5 record with 3.65 ERA in 86+1⁄3 innings pitched. The Red Sox selected his contract on July 2, adding him to their major league roster.[16] Cuevas made his season debut with Boston the next day, pitching two innings against the Washington Nationals, allowing one run on two hits;[17] he was optioned back to Triple-A the following day.[16] Cuevas was recalled back to Boston on July 8, and without making an appearance was optioned back to Triple-A on July 10.[16] Boston activated Cuevas on August 11, as their 26th player for a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles; he pitched in relief in the second game, and was returned to Triple-A the following day.[18] Cuevas was called up to Boston on September 1, when rosters expanded.[19] Cuevas finished the season with an 0–2 record and 7.41 ERA with Boston, while making nine appearances (one start) and striking out 20 in 17 innings. Cuevas was not included on Boston's postseason roster.[20]

KT Wiz

On November 20, 2018, Cuevas was granted his unconditional release so he could sign with the KT Wiz of Korea's KBO League.[21] Cuevas produced a 13–10 record with a 3.62 ERA and 135 strikeouts over 184 innings in 2019. He re-signed with KT for the 2020 season for $900,000 (and $100,000 in incentives).[22] On December 13, 2020, Cuevas re-signed with the Wiz for the 2021 season on a one-year $750K contract with a mutual option for the 2022 season.[23] In November 2021, Cuevas was designated as the starting pitcher for the first game of the Korean Series in franchise history. He earned the win, pitching 7+2⁄3 innings and giving up one run on seven hits, with eight strikeouts. He was named MVP of the game.[24] On December 30, 2021, Cuevas re-signed with the Wiz for the 2022 season on a one-year contract worth up to $1.1 million.[25] He suffered an elbow injury following his second start of the season, and was later released by the club on May 18, 2022.[26]

Diablos Rojos del México

On July 14, 2022, Cuevas signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.[27] He made one appearance for the Diablos in 2022, surrendering 4 earned runs in 2⁄3 innings of work.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On April 3, 2023, Cuevas signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.[28] Cuevas made 11 appearances (nine starts) for the Triple–A Oklahoma City Dodgers, registering a 6.14 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 44 innings of work.

KT Wiz (second stint)

On June 9, 2023, Cuevas was signed by the KT Wiz of the KBO League.[29] Cuevas was voted Player of the Month for August 2023, going 5-0 in five starts that month, giving up only two earned runs in 36 innings, for an ERA of 0.50. For the month of August 2023, he led all qualified KBO starters in wins and ERA, and was ranked second in strikeouts. [30] In 18 starts for the team in 2023, he registered a 12–0 record and 2.60 ERA with 100 strikeouts across 114+1⁄3 innings of work.

On December 7, 2023, Cuevas re-signed with the Wiz on a one-year, $1.5 million contract.[31]

International career

Cuevas was born in Venezuela, and is of Colombian descent through his mother. He played for the Colombia national baseball team at the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classic.[32]

See also

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 "William Enrique Cuevas | SoxProspects.com". www.soxprospects.com.
  2. ↑ Crowell, Jim (September 2, 2012). "SoxProspects.com – William Cuevas made history". News.SoxProspects.com. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  3. ↑ "2012 New York-Pennsylvania League pitching leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Five Sea Dogs chosen for Eastern League All-Star team". SoxProspects.com. Retrieved on July 2, 2015.
  5. ↑ 2015 Boston Red Sox Minor League Baseball pitching statistics. SoxProspects.com. Retrieved on April 20, 2016.
  6. ↑ Red Sox make series of roster moves to help bullpen. WEEI.com. Retrieved on April 20, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Tampa Bay Rays 12, Boston Red Sox 8". Retrosheet. April 21, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  9. ↑ Eddy, Matt (November 21, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Nov 12-18". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Tigers Option Joe Jimenez, Purchase Contract Of William Cuevas". 13 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  11. ↑ "Detroit Tigers 7, Cleveland Indians 6". Retrosheet. April 14, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  12. ↑ Adams, Steve (June 1, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 6/1/17". mlbtraderumors.com.
  13. ↑ Napoles, Michael (June 8, 2017). "Miami Marlins latest acquisition: RHP William Cuevas". marlinmaniac.com. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Red Sox Sign William Cuevas To Minor-League Contract". fenwaynation.com. January 5, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. July 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Red Sox vs. Nationals - Box Score". ESPN. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. August 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. September 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  20. ↑ Miller, Randy (October 5, 2018). "MLB playoffs 2018: Boston Red Sox set 25-man roster for ALDS vs. New York Yankees". NJ.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  21. ↑ Todd, Jeff (November 20, 2018). "Red Sox Outright Austin Maddox, Release William Cuevas". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  22. ↑ "kt wiz¸ 외국인 투수 쿠에바스와 내년 시즌도 함께한다". KT Wiz. December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  23. ↑ "KBO's KT Wiz Re-Sign William Cuevas". 13 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "'쿠에바스 완벽투' KT, 1차전 승리 우승 확률 75.7% 잡았다[KS1]". November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Korean Series champs KT Wiz retain starters Despaigne, Cuevas". Yonhap News Agency. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Defending KBO champions KT Wiz release pitcher Cuevas, sign ex-MLB lefty Benjamin". Yonhap News Agency. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  27. ↑ "PITCHER WILLIAM CUEVAS LLEGA A LOS DIABLOS ROJOS". diablos.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  28. ↑ "William Cuevas signed with the Dodgers". en.ultimasnoticias.com.ve. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  29. ↑ "KT Wiz reunite with pitcher Cuevas". m-en.yna.co.kr. 2023-06-08.
  30. ↑ Yonhap (September 11, 2023). "Wiz ace Cuevas voted KBO's top player for August". Korea Herald. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  31. ↑ "KT Wiz reunite with ex-KBO MVP Rojas, re-sign ace Cuevas". m-en.yna.co.kr. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  32. ↑ Woodbery, Evan (February 23, 2017). "New Tiger William Cuevas, a Venezuelan, will pitch for Colombia in WBC". mlive.
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