| William Cuevas | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Cuevas with thePortland Sea Dogs in 2015 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1990-10-14)October 14, 1990 (age 35) Turmero,Aragua,Venezuela | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 21, 2016, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| KBO: March 23, 2019, for the KT Wiz | |
| CPBL: August 16, 2025, for the CTBC Brothers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2018 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–3 |
| Earned run average | 8.06 |
| Strikeouts | 24 |
| KBO statistics (through July 5, 2025) | |
| Win–loss record | 55–45 |
| Earned run average | 3.93 |
| Strikeouts | 704 |
| CPBL statistics (through August 29, 2025) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–1 |
| Earned run average | 15.26 |
| Strikeouts | 7 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
William Enrique Cuevas Osorio[kway'-vahss / oh-so'-re-o] (born October 14, 1990) is a Venezuelan professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBoston Red Sox andDetroit Tigers, in theKBO League for theKT Wiz, and in theChinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for theCTBC Brothers. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg), Cuevas throws right-handed and is aswitch hitter. He has also played for theColombia national baseball team.
Cuevas was signed by theBoston Red Sox as an international free agent on June 2, 2009. He spent two-and-a-half seasons with theDSL Red Sox spanning 2009–2011, before joining theGCL rookie team late in 2011. He then was promoted to theLow–ALowell Spinners in 2012, and played with them for the entire season.[1]
Cuevas emerged during his first season with Lowell, as he posted eight wins and two losses in 77⅓innings of work,striking out 72 batters whilewalking only 15 for a solid 4.80SO/BB ratio. He also set a Spinners record for the lowestearned run average (ERA) in a regular season, as his 1.40 ERA bested the 1.50 mark set byKyle Weiland in 2008.[2] In addition, Cuevas ranked in the top of several statistical categories in theNew York–Penn League, tying for first in wins, for second both in ERA and innings, and for third in strikeouts.[3]
Cuevas was promoted to theHigh–ASalem Red Sox in 2013 but struggled for most of the year. He posted an 8–9 record and a 5.05 ERA in 26 starts, while striking out 109 and walking 40 in 135⅓ innings.[1] He returned to Salem in 2014, but spent two stints on thedisabled list, including one that lasted roughly a month. He then went 2–6 with a 4.70 ERA in 24 appearances (10 starts), including 80 strikeouts and 32 walks in 95⅓ innings.[1]
Cuevas gained a promotion to theDouble-APortland Sea Dogs in 2015, where he was used strictly as astarter and had a solid season, becoming one of five Sea Dogs players selected for theEastern League All-Star team.[4] Overall, he was 8–5 with a 3.40 ERA in 19 starts for Portland, including 91 strikeouts and 41 walks in 95⅓ innings. He then joined theTriple-APawtucket Red Sox in early August,[1] and ended his season on a high note. Cuevas went 3–2 with a 2.63 ERA in seven starts for Pawtucket, striking out 37 and walking 14 in 41 innings. As a result, he completed his seventh season in the Soxfarm system setting career highs in wins (11), innings pitched (136⅓) and strikeouts (128), tying for the most wins in the system while ending second in strikeouts and seventh in innings.[5]
Cuevas started the 2016 season with Triple-A Pawtucket. His contract was purchased by the Red Sox and he was added to their40-man roster on April 20.[6] Cuevas made his MLB debut the next day, pitching2+1⁄3 innings of relief against theTampa Bay Rays, giving up three hits and two runs while taking the loss.[7] He made two other appearances with Boston during the season, both in June. Overall, with the2016 Red Sox, Cuevas made three appearances with a 3.60 ERA in five innings pitched, striking out three and walking six. He also pitched 25 games (18 starts) with Pawtucket, compiling a 6–8 record with 4.19 ERA in 131 innings pitched. He became afree agent after the season on November 7.[8]
On November 19, 2016, Cuevas signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers.[9] The Tigers purchased Cuevas's contract on April 13, 2017, adding him to their active roster.[10] He made his only appearance with the Tigers the next day, pitching1⁄3 of an inning against theCleveland Indians, allowing four runs on three hits.[11] He declined an outright assignment to Triple-A on June 1, 2017, and elected free agency.[12]
On June 7, 2017, Cuevas signed a minor league deal with theMiami Marlins.[13] He played for the Triple-ANew Orleans Baby Cakes, appearing in 15 games (11 starts) with a 2–7 record and 5.43 ERA. Cuevas elected free agency following the season on November 6.[14]
On January 5, 2018, Cuevas signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox.[15] He was assigned to Triple-A and made 15 appearances (all starts) with Pawtucket through July 1, compiling a 5–5 record with 3.65 ERA in86+1⁄3 innings pitched. The Red Sox selected his contract on July 2, adding him to their major league roster.[16] Cuevas made his season debut with Boston the next day, pitching two innings against theWashington Nationals, allowing one run on two hits;[17] he was optioned back to Triple-A the following day.[16] Cuevas was recalled back to Boston on July 8, and without making an appearance was optioned back to Triple-A on July 10.[16] Boston activated Cuevas on August 11, as their 26th player for adoubleheader against theBaltimore Orioles; he pitched in relief in the second game, and was returned to Triple-A the following day.[18] Cuevas was called up to Boston on September 1, whenrosters expanded.[19] Cuevas finished the season with an 0–2 record and 7.41 ERA with Boston, while making nine appearances (one start) and striking out 20 in 17 innings. Cuevas was not included on Boston's postseason roster.[20]
On November 20, 2018, Cuevas was granted his unconditional release so he could sign with theKT Wiz of Korea'sKBO League.[21] Cuevas produced a 13–10 record with a 3.62 ERA and 135 strikeouts over 184 innings in 2019. He re-signed with KT for the 2020 season for $900,000 (and $100,000 in incentives).[22] On December 13, 2020, Cuevas re-signed with the Wiz for the 2021 season on a one-year $750K contract with a mutual option for the 2022 season.[23] In November 2021, Cuevas was designated as the starting pitcher for the first game of the Korean Series in franchise history. He earned the win, pitching7+2⁄3 innings and giving up one run on seven hits, with eight strikeouts. He was named MVP of the game.[24] On December 30, 2021, Cuevas re-signed with the Wiz for the 2022 season on a one-year contract worth up to $1.1 million.[25] He suffered an elbow injury following his second start of the season, and was later released by the club on May 18, 2022.[26]
On July 14, 2022, Cuevas signed with theDiablos Rojos del México of theMexican League.[27] He made one appearance for the Diablos in 2022, surrendering 4 earned runs in2⁄3 innings of work.
On April 3, 2023, Cuevas signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers organization.[28] Cuevas made 11 appearances (nine starts) for the Triple–AOklahoma City Dodgers, registering a 6.14 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 44 innings of work.
On June 9, 2023, Cuevas was signed by theKT Wiz of theKBO League.[29] Cuevas was voted Player of the Month for August 2023, going 5-0 in five starts that month, giving up only two earned runs in 36 innings, for an ERA of 0.50. For the month of August 2023, he led all qualified KBO starters in wins and ERA, and was ranked second in strikeouts.[30] In 18 starts for the team in 2023, he registered a 12–0 record and 2.60 ERA with 100 strikeouts across114+1⁄3 innings of work.
On December 7, 2023, Cuevas re-signed with the Wiz on a one-year, $1.5 million contract.[31] He made 31 starts for the team in 2024, compiling a 7–12 record and 4.10 ERA with 154 strikeouts across173+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On November 29, 2024, Cuevas re–signed with the Wiz on a $1.5 million contract.[32] He made 18 starts for the team in 2025, posting a 3-10 record and 5.40 ERA with 60 strikeouts across98+1⁄3 innings pitched. Cuevas was released by the Wiz following the signing ofPatrick Murphy on July 12, 2025.[33]
On July 26, 2025, Cuevas signed with theCTBC Brothers of theChinese Professional Baseball League; he andJesús Vargas were signed in an attempt to mitigate multiple injuries to other foreign players.[34] In three starts for CTBC, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 15.26 ERA with seven strikeouts across7+2⁄3 innings pitched. Cuevas was released by the Brothers on August 31.[35]
Cuevas was born in Venezuela, and is of Colombian descent through his mother. He played for theColombia national baseball team at the2017 and2023 World Baseball Classic.[36]
