Unowned
Vladimir Gutierrez, P
Edit player ✎
Baseball Reference →
FanGraphs →
MLB →
Scouting report
After sitting 90-93 in 2019, Gutierrez was suddenly sitting 94-96 in one- and two-inning outings during 2020 spring training. Later it was announced that he had tested positive for the PED Stanozolol. He was not allowed at the Reds' alternate site because of the ensuing suspension and instead picked up innings during Instructional League in the Fall, and eventually for Licey in the Dominican Winter League. His velocity climbed from the 90-93 range back into the mid-90s during that time period, but he wasn't exactly dominant for Licey. He has a drop and drive delivery that creates a really flat approach angle on his fastball, especially at the top of the strike zone, but Gutierrez's heater currently has other attributes (its spin rate and axis are indicative of sink/tailing action) that don't suit this style of pitching, and he's been homer prone throughout his career. There are several potential solutions. He might be able to just bully the extra velocity past hitters in a relief role, or he may eventually lean into the sink/tail aspects of the fastball and work off a two-seamer (Julio Teheran is actually a pretty clean athlete/delivery comp for Gutierrez). Or the new dev regime might tweak something -- perhaps his hand position or stride direction -- to try to shape how the fastball moves, if Gutierrez is receptive to it. He's a good athlete with a four-pitch mix, but I'm betting we see velo and curveballs in an eventual relief role. (Fall Instructional League, LIDOM)