Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 11/04/1997
College: Cabrillo College (JC)
How Acquired: Trade (with Blue Jays)
Drafted: 33rd round, 1000th Overall, 2017 (Dodgers)
Bonus: $75,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
De Geus has had a curious career. He’s never pitched well at all in the upper minors or in the majors. He has an ERA of 6.66 in AAA and 7.48 in the majors. He keeps getting chances, though, because his stuff grades out well. He throws a sinker that averages over 96 mph and produces high groundball rates. He also relies heavily on a knuckle curve and a cutter. He doesn’t miss many bats and has generally been plagued by high BABIPs and low strand rates. It probably didn’t help that he got rushed to the majors as a Rule 5 selection. De Geus has been almost exclusively a reliever as a pro. The Pirates acquired him for cash from Toronto.
2018-20
In his first season after the Dodgers drafted him, De Geus pitched as a starter in advanced rookie ball and got hit hard, with a 7.26 ERA. The team moved him to relief in 2019 and he had an outstanding season, split between the two class A levels. He had a 2.35 ERA in low A, then a 1.16 ERA in the high-offense California League. He also had strong walk and K rates at both levels.
De Geus didn’t pitch in the pandemic season. After the season, Texas selected him in the Rule 5 draft.
2021-22
De Geus’ introduction to the majors didn’t go well, although it shouldn’t have been surprising given that he was making the jump from class A after a full season off. In 19 games with the Rangers, he had an 8.44 ERA. Texas put him on waivers in late June and Arizona claimed him. He had a 6.56 ERA in 28 games with the Diamondbacks, with worse peripherals than he had with Texas. Arizona put him waivers after the season and outrighted him after he cleared.
For the first half of 2022, De Geus pitched in AA for Arizona and continued to struggle, with a 5.96 ERA, and poor walk and K rates. The Diamondbacks released him in early June and he caught on in independent ball. He had trouble there, too, posting a 6.43 ERA in 33 relief outings.
2023-24
De Geus opened the 2023 season in independent ball, but signed a minor league deal with Kansas City in mid-May. The Royals sent him to AA and he pitched well, with a 2.80 ERA and a low walk rate, although he didn’t miss a lot of bats. His final nine outings were in AAA and he got hammered there. He became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league deal with Seattle.
The Mariners called De Geus up briefly early in the 2024 season, but he spent the bulk of the season with them in AAA. He continued to get bad results there, getting hit hard and putting up a 6.60 ERA. In August, Miami claimed De Geus off waivers. He got into four games in the majors with the Marlins and seven in AAA, then got claimed off waivers by Toronto in September. He got into three AAA games after that and two for the Jays, giving up four runs in 2.1 IP. Toronto designated De Geus for assignment the following January and then sent him to the Pirates for cash.
De Geus has two options left.
Stats
Transactions
June 14, 2017: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 33rd round, 1000th overall pick; signed on June 19.
December 10, 2020: Claimed from the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Texas Rangers in the Rule 5 draft.
June 25, 2021: Claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Texas Rangers.
December 1, 2021: Outrighted to AAA by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
June 6, 2022: Released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
May 12, 2023: Signed by the Kansas City Royals as a minor league free agent.
November 6, 2023: Became a free agent.
December 3, 2023: Signed by the Seattle Mariners as a minor league free agent.
April 8, 2024: Called up by the Seattle Mariners.
August 5, 2024: Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners by the Miami Marlins.
September 12, 2024: Claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins by the Toronto Blue Jays.
January 15, 2025: Traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash.