MERIDA, Mexico -. Yulieski Gurriel could return to the Major Leagues at age 40 after being traded from Atlanta to the Kansas City Royals.
“Yuli Gurriel is on his way to Houston where he will report to the Kansas City Royals in the Major Leagues,” journalist Francys Romero announced yesterday.
“After several months of fighting in Triple-A, he achieved what seemed impossible at 40 years old: returning to where he belongs: to MLB,” said Romero, who clarified that “it is still unknown if he will be activated tomorrow.”
The Kansas City team, which this Sunday plays in Houston against the Astros, the team with which Gurriel won two World Series, said who had acquired the Sancti Spiritus native in a “minor league deal for cash.”
The Kansas City Royals (75-62) are immersed in the fight for first place in the American League Central division, just two and a half games behind the Cleveland Indians (77-59).
Gurriel has participated in 75 games with the AAA branch of the Atlanta Braves in 2024, in which he averaged .292 with 12 home runs.
In April, Gurriel signed a minor league contract with Atlanta after his unstable stint with the Miami Marlins in 2023 where he hit .245 with 23 extra-base hits and a .663 OPS.
After his time in Japanese baseball, the veteran Cuban star burst onto the scene in MLB where he batted .281 in 8 seasons, won a Gold Glove at first base and has eight home runs and 39 RBIs in the playoffs.
In his seven seasons with Houston, he was a key piece in helping the Astros win championships in 2017 and 2022.
Last year, Gurriel received his second championship ring in his time in the Major Leagues. In an emotional ceremony at LoanDepot Park, the native of Sancti Spiritus received the ring from his former teammate in the Houston Astros and friend, Cuban Yordan Álvarez.
