Position: C
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 214 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 10/31/1999
Country: Venezuela
Signed: International Free Agent, 2017 (Phillies)
How Acquired: Trade (from Phillies for Braeden Ogle)
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 3
Overview
Gutierrez has had an unusually complicated transactional history for a player at such an early stage of his career. He originally signed with Atlanta, but MLB voided the contract in the wake of the Braves’ international signing scandal. The Phillies signed him a month later. At the 2021 trade deadline, the Phillies agreed to trade him and another prospect to the Pirates for Tyler Anderson, but the deal wasn’t finalized due to a problem with the other prospect’s physical. Instead, the Pirates traded Anderson to Seattle and acquired Gutierrez for Braeden Ogle.
Gutierrez was one of the most highly regarded international prospects the year he became eligible to sign, but his development hasn’t been quite as good as hoped. He has a good eye and consistently makes contact, but hasn’t hit for as much power as scouts thought he would. This is despite the fact that scouts see him as having average raw power. He receives and moves well behind the plate, with an average arm.
2017-21
Gutierrez didn’t play badly, but made very slow progress in his first four years. The Phillies sent him to the GCL initially, but although he hit reasonably well and threw out 38% of base stealers, they sent him back there in 2018. He hit very well his second year there.
In 2019, Gutierrez went to low A and just held his own, showing very little power. He didn’t play in 2020, then went back to low A in 2021 and hit much better, with more power, then went to the Pirates at the deadline. He hit even better after the trade, including three home runs in Bradenton’s three-game playoff sweep.
2022-24
In 2022, Gutierrez found himself in a peculiar situation at Greensboro, which opened the season with him, Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez. The Pirates still found ways to play Gutierrez more or less every day, although Davis’ early departure helped. Gutierrez started 44 games at catcher, 21 at first and 42 as DH. He had a solid season on offense and improved as it wore along, with July (.926) and September (.852) his best months. He hit eight of his 12 home runs in the Greensboro park, but he had a slightly higher OPS on the road. He had no platoon split. Gutierrez threw out 26% of base stealers. He was eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the season, but wasn’t added to the roster or selected.
Gutierrez’ 2023 season was plagued by injuries. He went on the injured list three times and didn’t play after late July. He started the season back in Greensboro, played 20 games there, then moved up to Altoona and got into 33 games when he wasn’t hurt. His hitting was much the same as ever, with very good plate discipline — 26 walks and 30 strikeouts on the season — and some power. He had a .762 OPS for the Hoppers and .681 for the Curve. He threw out 23% of base stealers on the season.
In 2024, Gutierrez returned to Altoona and the injuries continued. He went on the injured list in late April and, after a rehab at lower levels, returned to the Curve in early July. Seven weeks later he went back on the IL for the rest of the season. Gutierrez got into 44 games in AA and didn’t hit well, with a 252/283/322 line. He didn’t strike out a lot but his walk rate plummeted to 4%. He threw out only 15% of base stealers.
Gutierrez is eligible for free agency in fall 2024.
Stats
Transactions
July 2, 2016: Signed by the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent.
November 21, 2017: Contract voided by MLB.
December 21, 2017: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent.
July 30, 2021: Traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Braeden Ogle.