In a move that is getting Reds fans’ attention, Cincinnati has just agreed to a significant bullpen addition—one that involves a former Yankee Star. The right-handed reliever has officially joined the Cincinnati Reds. Although it was announced last week that he had an agreement with the club, everything is now official, and the ink is on paper.
After pitching in Japan in 2024, Albert Abreu will return to the United States in 2025. He pitched 49.0 innings across 52 games last season, recording a 2.39 ERA, 33 strikeouts, and 20 walks, three of which were intentional. To put that ERA in perspective, it was good, but not quite as good as it might appear. In 2024, Japan’s league was relatively pitcher-friendly, with an ERA of 3.04.
Abreu pitched in the major leagues from 2020–2023 for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals before moving to Japan. He pitched 135.2 innings and had an ERA of 4.58 throughout portions of four seasons in Major League Baseball. He struck out 136 batters in that time and had 78 walks.
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Abreu was invited to big league spring training by Cincinnati, bringing their total number of players in big league camp to 59. Pitchers make up 31 of those players. Of those 31, 11 are not on the 40-man roster, and Wade Miley, one of them, will not be able to compete for a spot and will not be ready to start the season on schedule due to Tommy John surgery. It is anticipated that Miley will be prepared by the end of May. Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson, two of the 40-man roster’s pitchers, will also be in big league camp but won’t be accessible because they are both recuperating from Tommy John surgery and will miss the whole 2025 season.
Although catchers and pitchers aren’t expected to come to Goodyear until the next week, some men are already there and working.
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