Remedios is a small town in the center of Cuba. In terms of history, it is recognized as one of the first towns (eighth) created by the Spanish after their arrival on the Caribbean island in 1492. Culturally, it is recognized internationally for its parrandas, a festival of religious origin that is celebrated every year. on December 24, but if we talk about sports, it has been a 24-year-old who has been in charge of locating the city of Villa Clara on the map of the Major Leagues.
“I started playing when I was only six years old. One of the things that I liked the most was that the weekend came to go with my team from Remedios to run into Caibarién or Encrucijada”, he told us exclusively. Yosver Zuluetapitcher who currently plays at the Double A level (New Hampshire) of the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
That was the starting point for the young pitcher, whose debut in the senior category occurred in 2016, when he made his debut in the National Baseball Series at just 18 years of age. He would play in this event for three seasons and in the last one (2018-2019) his numbers already made a case for something very serious (1.96 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 55 innings).
“Playing in the National Series was a goal accomplished, a beautiful experience, because I was able to share with excellent pitchers, some of them among the best in Cuba, although applying what I learned there on our side is more difficult, because there are many differences,” Zulueta told us. about his jump to professionalism, which occurred in 2019, when he achieved a contract for close to a million dollars with the Blue Jays.
The Canadian franchise made important moves to gain the space that would allow them to sign Zulueta, but the adventure started off on the wrong foot. Without even throwing his first official ball as a professional, the first setback would come: surgery and a recovery process lengthened over time by the vicissitudes of Covid-19 and the suspension in 2020 of the Minor League season.
“When I signed with the Blue Jays in 2019 I thought I was going to play really fast. I felt prepared, maybe not like right now, but I really wanted to play. Then came the news of the elbow surgery. I always thought that going through the Minor Leagues would be faster. It took me almost two years to come back. That time helped me achieve a complete recovery of my arm, but I never thought I would be away for so long”, Zulueta assured us.
After his recovery (2019 and 2020), Yosver was invited back to the Blue Jays training camp in the 2021 Spring Training. He made his debut against the Detroit Tigers and, although the result was not statistically positive, it did leave everyone convinced that the tools shown were well worth the price of their contract and that developing them would be a matter of time.
Through 98-mile straights, Zulueta gained a position and traveled a route previously traced to rise quickly within the organization. And just when it seemed that his career was starting to get going after the initial delay, it took only one rival at-bat for a new injury to appear, this time in his knee. The operating room appeared again in his planning…
TOR RHP Yosver Zulueta went 5 shutout innings today allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. FB up to 99 MPH, easy gas. All strikeouts were via the fastball, really way trying to elevate it in strikeout counts. SL, CB, CH all working earlier in the accounts. pic.twitter.com/EPEnRcTM2R
— Trevor Hooth (@HoothTrevor) June 3, 2022
“I was really 100% after the invitation to Major League camp and Minor League Spring Training in 2021, but then the knee injury showed up and it was much worse. At the time, I didn’t think it was serious, but the next day the doctor told me that I would need surgery and that I would lose the entire season in recovery”, told us the healer, who needed a lot of energy and support from within his house .
“I managed to always be positive with the help of the family. They have always been my emotional support. It is vital for every athlete to have family by their side to go through the difficult moments of the race”, she specified.
Despite the setback, the lanky 6-foot-2, 220-pound right-hander had no plans to give in to adversity. He returned in 2022 showing up to a 101-mile fastball, combined with his deep-arc curveball, his slider (which he worked with the help of Maels Rodriguez) and his changeup, enough credentials for the team to consider him again in his plans.
“I always like to set goals for myself. After the two injuries, he had to come to work and show why he had been signed. That was always on her mind and it was part of the energy she needed to work harder. Injuries serve to strengthen you mentally. I think it’s like a test to prove to yourself what you’re made of and how far you can go,” she said.
Precisely, 2022 has been an opportunity to show its progression at the different levels of the organization:
* Class A: three starts, 12.2 innings and 23 strikeouts
* Class A Advanced: six starts, 23.2 innings and 31 strikeouts
* Double A: two starts, three reliefs, 10.1 innings and 16 strikeouts
In total, he has worked on 46 episodes this season, in which he has withdrawn 70 rivals by way of strikes, for a very high average of 13.7 structured for every nine innings. At the same time, he worries about his rate of almost five walks (4.7) per game, although the Blue Jays coaches continue to trust in his confidence and in the possibilities that he can contribute at the highest level of play.
“In 2022 nothing has changed, I have only worked hard with my routine, since I had not competed in a long season for years. The injury came unexpectedly because I had prepared myself enough. Right now I try to stay healthy and keep working on the routine and rhythm of the game”, highlighted Zulueta, who received excellent news last July, rewarded for effort, sacrifice and dedication.
“The invitation to the Future Stars game came almost at the same time as promotion to Double A. It has been one of the happiest days of my career in professional baseball,” said the man from Villa Clara, whose performance did not go unnoticed in the duel. of future luminaries held in Los Angeles.
At Dodgers Stadium, he was called up to pitch with the bases loaded and two out, and retired the batter he faced with a single pitch, ending the inning in relief and later scoring the win.
Here is Yosver Zulueta’s performance exclusively!!! From Dodgers Stadium!!! #cubanball #cubantalent #cubanbaseball! https://t.co/TfjuHoZ7kC pic.twitter.com/Ve1X4R5rFX
– Jesus Fernandez ??⚾️ (@jesusLCA2017) July 17, 2022
Then he began his journey through Double A, an instance in which he has worked in five games, three of them as a reliever. His main problem has been control, since rivals only hit .184 against him, he has given away ten walks in 10.1 innings.
“I always thought I would feel better as a starter. Due to the need of the team, they sent me to the bullpen and after two outings I have been comfortable and sure that I can do both things, to contribute where they need me most. In this 2022 the most important thing is to finish the season healthy to take advantage of the offseason and polish tools to come in 2023 in better conditions. Anyway, I intend to do well and I look forward to the possibility of being promoted to AAA this very season, and why not, to the Major Leagues as well”, he stated.
For now, the man from Villa Clara has encountered new setbacks, as he was placed on the injured list, suffering from inflammation in his right knee and discomfort in his throwing shoulder.
“It’s just a slight irritation in the knee that has been resolved,” the pitcher from Remedios told us. “From the shoulder, a tendinitis. However, I have already started shooting and will soon do the first bullpen sessions. If everything continues to go well, next week (August 29 to September 4) they will activate me, ”he told us with relief.
Considered the main right-handed pitching prospect in the Canadian franchise, the terms of his return and recovery remain to be seen. But if there is something very clear, as transparent as water, it is that in this story of stumbling, faith and getting up again, Zulueta will end up making his way to the top that his talent deserves.
Regardless of the setbacks, Yosver dreams big and just needs to adjust his aim and stay healthy to try to become the next Aroldis Chapman in the Major Leagues. But beyond that, the man from Villa Clara also aspires to defend the national colors, something that every athlete carries with him.
“Playing a Clásico would be a great experience. The Association of Professional Baseball Players is a project that can ensure that Cubans who are playing here or in other leagues can represent the country as Cubans do as players from other nations do,” he specified.
In the same way, Zulueta does not forget his origins in baseball on the outskirts of Remedios, where he grew up throwing balls in the local stadium in front of the cemetery: “To the people of Villa Clara and especially to the people of Remedios, who I know are happy with every good news. mine that comes out, they always congratulate me, they write to me on social networks, thank you very much for the support and I will always be one of them”.
