Position: LHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 10/01/1996
College: University of Arizona
Drafted: 35th Round, 1060th Overall, 2019 (Guardians)
How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, Minor League Phase, 2024 (from Guardians)
Bonus: $50,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
Labaut has a dramatic life story that includes his family’s journey from Cuba to the US and a health scare in college with an unusual condition in his leg that could have cost him the limb. On a less dramatic front, Cleveland drafted Labaut in the 35th round in 2019 out of Arizona. As a pro, he’s been almost entirely a reliever. His fastball sits around 92 mph and he also employs a cutter and change. He had high K rates in the lower minors, but those have dropped and he’s had some control problems at the upper levels. He’s generally had fairly large platoon splits, although he had a reverse split in 2024. The Pirates selected Labaut in the minor league phase of the 2024 Rule 5 draft.
2019-22
Cleveland sent Labaut to rookie ball after he signed and he had little trouble there, with an 0.93 WHIP and 11.3 K/9. After missing the 2020 season, he went to low A in 2021 and put up solid numbers, including a 1.19 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9 and 12.0 K/9. At 24, though, he was old for the level.
In 2022, Labaut split the season between high A and AA. He was much more successful at the lower level, with an 0.92 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 12.3 K/9. He had a lot more trouble in AA, largely due to 6.7 walks per nine innings.
2023-24
Labaut rebounded in AA in the first half of 2023, posting a 1.07 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9. In the second half in AAA, things went bad, as he walked eight per nine innings and struck out only 9.3. He spent all of 2024 in AAA and improved, but the numbers still weren’t good, including 6.3 walks and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2015: Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 37th round, 1112th overall pick.
June 5, 2019: Drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 35th round, 1060th overall pick; signed on June 14.
December 11, 2024: Selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft from the Cleveland Guardians by the Pittsburgh Pirates.