Journeyman flamethrower has a chance to capitalize on his success in the Mexican Winter League.
While Angels fans await a blockbuster move in free agency, the front office chalked up one more under-the-radar signing. The Angels and veteran right-handed pitcher Tayron Guerrero reportedly agreed on a minor league contract for the 2024 season.
Guerrero hasn’t pitched in the major leagues for four years, but he hasn’t been idle.
The 6-foot-8 flamethrower was released from Triple-A Louisville, a Cincinnati Reds affiliate, after recording an 11.51 ERA in 20 games at the start of the 2023 season. 22 walks were given by Guerrero in 22.1 innings.
Guerrero has been pitching in Mexico ever since. He has struck out 26 batters in 16.1 innings with Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific Winter League, giving up just two runs and seven walks.
Guerrero’s most recent chapter in his once-promising career appeared to have enough potential for the Angels to consider giving him another chance.
After being signed by the San Diego Padres as an amateur out of Colombia in 2009, Guerrero was involved with five different organisations. In 2016, he made one appearance for the Padres before being traded to the Miami Marlins in a seven-player trade that summer.
Guerrero’s 104 mph fastball in 2018 was a sight to behold for many. Only closer Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees and pitcher Jordan Hicks of the St. Louis Cardinals threw harder at the time.
Pitching is more than just speed, and Guerrero was unable to combine it all at the major league level. Guerrero struggled with command in 2019, as evidenced by his 6.26 ERA and 36 walks while hitting six batters in 52 games.
Since then, Guerrero has been with the White Sox, the Reds, Japan, and back again in a span of four years. He pitched 46 innings for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB in 2022 and had a 3.52 ERA.
If his command issues are behind him, Guerrero will have a chance to turn heads in spring training.
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