Vladimir Gutierrez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #14 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Gutierrez was expected to be a fast-mover when the Reds signed him for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016. Four seasons later, Gutierrez has yet to make his MLB debut. He struggled to pitch with the more lively Triple-A ball in 2019. He was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol. Gutierrez did get approval from MLB to report to instructional league and pitched as a starter for Licey in the Dominican League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez's velocity took a jump in spring training before his suspension. He showed that same 94-96 mph velocity at the end of instructional league. His changeup and curve have both flashed above-average, but too often he's focused on strike-throwing and the quality of his stuff suffers. He can vary the break of his curve, making it a sweepier strike or a harder pitch he buries in advantageous counts. Gutierrez has average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gutierrez has 20 games remaining to serve on his suspension, so his 2021 season will be delayed. The Reds added him to the 40-man roster despite his PED suspension. He's more likely to end up as a reliever, but he could fill a back-end role if the opportunity arises.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #13 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Reds signed Gutierrez for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016 after two successful seasons in Cuba's top baseball league, Serie Nacional. The 6-foot righthander rose quickly to the upper minors but hit a roadblock at Triple-A Louisville in 2019. His 6.04 ERA was third-highest in the International League, while his 26 homers allowed were tied for second-highest.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez's fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph. It plays best when he pairs it with his plus changeup, but the consistency of his changeup was a problem in 2019. He often tried to manipulate it too much and, as a result, both his fastball and changeup played down. At his best, Gutierrez throws his changeup with similar arm speed to his fastball and has late fade with excellent deception. Gutierrez's spins an average curveball in the low-to-mid 80s that has sweeping action, but other times it is a true overhand, 12-to-6 offering. Usually in and around the strike zone, Gutierrez's control projects as average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gutierrez is best suited for the back of the rotation and could make his Reds debut in 2020. First, he has to prove his International League struggles are behind him.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Cincinnati signed Gutierrez for $4.7 million in September 2016. Since then, he has developed a little slower than expected for a pitcher with experience in Cuba’s top league, Serie Nacional. At the time of his signing, Gutierrez was seen as a potential power reliever, but he has proven to have more feel and a little less stuff than expected.
  
  Scouting Report: Gutierrez isn’t overpowering but gets hitters out using an effective three-pitch mix that he throws from a three-quarters arm slot with future above-average control. His delivery adds some deception with a slight turn of his back before exploding toward the plate. His average fastball sits comfortably in the low 90s while touching 96 mph. He flashes a future above-average 12-to-6 curveball that ranges from 78-83 mph. It has very good break and he can land it for strikes while also bending it out of the strike zone. His low-80s changeup is also a solid-average pitch. It has deception and fade.
  
  The Future: Gutierrez is ready for Triple-A Louisville. With his stuff and control, he has shown that he can reach the big leagues as a back-of-the-rotation starter in late 2019 or 2020.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #9 prospect in 2018
  The Reds have been as aggressive as any team in terms of signing Cuban players. It started with Aroldis Chapman and continued with Raisel Iglesias and now includes Guerrero and shortstops Alfredo Rodriguez and Jose Israel Garcia. The Reds have a lot of confidence in their ability to both scout players coming out of Cuba and their ability to help Cuban players acclimate to playing in the States. Gutierrez, signed with the Reds for $4.75 million in August 2016. Shaking off the rust of a long layoff, he pitched for high Class A Daytona in 2017 and performed well before tiring near the end of the season and sitting out August. Like Iglesias, Gutierrez worked as a reliever in Cuba, and because he's less athletic than Iglesias, he could be destined for the bullpen eventually. He has flashed a plus fastball, a changeup and a pair of breaking balls, including a slider that is generally better than his curve. Gutierrez has gone back and forth over the years over which breaking ball he emphasizes. His curveball was better when he was in Cuba, then he shelved it for the slider which has been more consistent recently. At some point he may need to choose one because on some nights the two end up blending together. His fastball ranges from 90-97 mph depending on the night. Gutierrez attended instructional league and participated in drills but did not compete in games. Gutierrez should start 2018 at Double-A Pensacola, where the Reds hope he can pitch a full season. He was in big league camp in 2017, often paired in throwing groups with Iglesias, and he could do the same again in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #9 prospect in 2017
  Gutierrez left the Cuban national team at the Caribbean Series in February 2015 after two effective seasons in the Cuban major league at ages 17 and 18. Poor workouts in 2015 kept him from getting the offers he expected, but he eventually signed with the Reds in August 2016 for $4.75 million after he showed an improved fastball. The Reds spent nearly $12 million on Gutierrez and Cuban shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez in 2016 as they blew past their international bonus allotment. At the time of his defection, Gutierrez possessed one of the best combinations of stuff and projection in the rapidly thinning Cuban pitching market. His fastball sat 88-93 mph in Cuba and was 92-96 in a three-inning workout for multiple teams in April 2016. His curveball, the best in Cuba before he came to the U.S., is back after what Gutierrez called an ill-conceived idea to shelve it for a slider. His high-70s curve is a power pitch with tight spin and downer action that could end up being a plus offering. He also still throws a slider as a less-effective but usable breaking ball. Though his changeup was an afterthought in Cuba, Gutierrez has developed an 83-84 mph change with deception and fade that could be average one day. The Reds previously signed athletic Cuban pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Raisel Iglesias, though Gutierrez is further from the big leagues than they were. He was a reliever in Cuba but has a ceiling of mid-rotation starter and will join high Class A Daytona in 2017.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Gutierrez was expected to be a fast-mover when the Reds signed him for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016. Four seasons later, Gutierrez has yet to make his MLB debut. He struggled to pitch with the more lively Triple-A ball in 2019. He was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol. Gutierrez did get approval from MLB to report to instructional league and pitched as a starter for Licey in the Dominican League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez's velocity took a jump in spring training before his suspension. He showed that same 94-96 mph velocity at the end of instructional league. His changeup and curve have both flashed above-average, but too often he's focused on strike-throwing and the quality of his stuff suffers. He can vary the break of his curve, making it a sweepier strike or a harder pitch he buries in advantageous counts. Gutierrez has average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gutierrez has 20 games remaining to serve on his suspension, so his 2021 season will be delayed. The Reds added him to the 40-man roster despite his PED suspension. He's more likely to end up as a reliever, but he could fill a back-end role if the opportunity arises.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Gutierrez was expected to be a fast-mover when the Reds signed him for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016. Four seasons later, Gutierrez has yet to make his MLB debut. He struggled to pitch with the more lively Triple-A ball in 2019. He was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol. Gutierrez did get approval from MLB to report to instructional league and pitched as a starter for Licey in the Dominican League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez's velocity took a jump in spring training before his suspension. He showed that same 94-96 mph velocity at the end of instructional league. His changeup and curve have both flashed above-average, but too often he's focused on strike-throwing and the quality of his stuff suffers. He can vary the break of his curve, making it a sweepier strike or a harder pitch he buries in advantageous counts. Gutierrez has average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gutierrez has 20 games remaining to serve on his suspension, so his 2021 season will be delayed. The Reds added him to the 40-man roster despite his PED suspension. He's more likely to end up as a reliever, but he could fill a back-end role if the opportunity arises.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Reds signed Gutierrez for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016 after two successful seasons in Cuba’s top baseball league, Serie Nacional. The 6-foot righthander rose quickly to the upper minors but hit a roadblock at Triple-A Louisville in 2019. His 6.04 ERA was third-highest in the International League, while his 26 homers allowed were tied for second-highest.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez’s fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph. It plays best when he pairs it with his plus changeup, but the consistency of his changeup was a problem in 2019. He often tried to manipulate it too much and, as a result, both his fastball and changeup played down. At his best, Gutierrez throws his changeup with similar arm speed to his fastball and has late fade with excellent BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 45 Risk: High deception. Gutierrez’s spins an average curveball in the low-to-mid 80s that has sweeping action, but other times it is a true overhand, 12-to-6 offering. Usually in and around the strike zone, Gutierrez’s control projects as average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gutierrez is best suited for the back of the rotation and could make his Reds debut in 2020. First, he has to prove his International League struggles are behind him.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Reds signed Gutierrez for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016 after two successful seasons in Cuba's top baseball league, Serie Nacional. The 6-foot righthander rose quickly to the upper minors but hit a roadblock at Triple-A Louisville in 2019. His 6.04 ERA was third-highest in the International League, while his 26 homers allowed were tied for second-highest.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez's fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph. It plays best when he pairs it with his plus changeup, but the consistency of his changeup was a problem in 2019. He often tried to manipulate it too much and, as a result, both his fastball and changeup played down. At his best, Gutierrez throws his changeup with similar arm speed to his fastball and has late fade with excellent deception. Gutierrez's spins an average curveball in the low-to-mid 80s that has sweeping action, but other times it is a true overhand, 12-to-6 offering. Usually in and around the strike zone, Gutierrez's control projects as average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gutierrez is best suited for the back of the rotation and could make his Reds debut in 2020. First, he has to prove his International League struggles are behind him.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Gutierrez has pitched much better over the last month after struggling in his first taste of Double-A. With a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and regularly touches 97 mph, Gutierrez has allowed a total of six earned runs in his last seven starts, spanning 43 innings. His curveball is showing above average and he flashes feel for a changeup with above-average command.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Reds have been as aggressive as any team in terms of signing Cuban players. It started with Aroldis Chapman and continued with Raisel Iglesias and now includes Guerrero and shortstops Alfredo Rodriguez and Jose Israel Garcia. Gutierrez signed with the Reds for $4.75 million in August 2016. He pitched for high Class A Daytona in 2017 and performed well before tiring near the end of the season and sitting out August. Scouting Report: Like Iglesias, Gutierrez worked as a reliever in Cuba, and because he's less athletic than Iglesias, he could be destined for the bullpen. He has flashed a plus fastball, changeup and pair of breaking balls–his slider is generally better than his curve. On some nights the two end up blending together. His fastball ranges from 90-97 mph depending on the night. Gutierrez attended instructional league and participated in drills but did not compete in games. The Future: Gutierrez should start 2018 at Double-A Pensacola, where the Reds hope he can pitch a full season. He was in big league camp in 2017, often paired in throwing groups with Iglesias, and he could do the same again in 2018.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Gutierrez left the Cuban national team at the Caribbean Series in February 2015 after two effective seasons in the Cuban major league. Poor workouts in 2015 kept him from getting the offers he expected, but he eventually signed with the Reds in late August 2016 for $4.75 million after he showed an improved fastball. The Reds spent nearly $12 million on Gutierrez and Cuban shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez in 2016. Scouting Report: At the time of his defection, Gutierrez possessed one of the best combinations of stuff and projection in the rapidly thinning Cuban pitching market. His fastball sat at 88-93 mph in Cuba and was 92-96 in a three-inning workout for multiple teams in April 2016. His curveball, the best in Cuba before he came to the U.S., is back after what Gutierrez called an ill-conceived idea to shelve his curveball for a slider. His high-70s curve is a power pitch with tight spin and downer action that could end up being a plus offering. He also still throws a slider as a less-effective but usable breaking ball. Gutierrez has developed an 83-84 mph change with deception and fade that could be average one day.
  
  The Future: The Reds previously signed and developed athletic Cuban pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Raisel Iglesias, though Gutierrez is further from the big leagues than they were. He has a ceiling of mid-rotation starter and will join high Class A Daytona in 2017.