A week after being released by the Kansas City Royals Cuban right-hander Ronald Bolaños is set to sign with the Miami Marlins to a minor league contract. The hard throwing Cuban didn’t have the best World Baseball Classic with his country posting a 37.50 ERA in 1 ⅔ innings pitched, but he has plenty of raw talent that includes a fastball in the high 90’s.
The 26-year-old pitcher made his major league debut in 2019 with the San Diego Padres and has seen action in the last three seasons with the Royals. In his four years on the grand stage, he has a 0-4 record and a 5.25 ERA. In 18 games and five starts in the majors he’s posted a 1.63 WHIP and an 8.1 SO/9.
In this 2022 he split time between the minors and the majors, in AAA he pitched 41.2 innings where he fanned 34 batters and with the Royals he pitched 18.1 innings where he struck out 12 and had an a ERA of 4.42.
Per source, the #Marlins are signing Cuban pitcher Ronald Bolaños to a minor league deal. @yusseff305 was first on the news pic.twitter.com/F0UPSY8swm
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) April 3, 2023
This winter Bolaños pitched in the Dominican Winter League with the Toros del Este and in 10 starts posted a 3-4 mark to go along with a decent 3.53 ERA. Sources tell me that flamethrower generated a lot of interest from teams from Asia this winter, but nothing ever materialized.
The hurler is represented by the Leona Sports Agency and will more than likely begin the season with the team’s Triple-A farm club in Jacksonville. Sources also tell me that Bolaños will meet with the club tomorrow at the team’s Jupiter, Florida complex to officially sign with the fish.
Bolaños might spend a short time in minors and then move up to the big club or his time with the Marlins might serve as a showcase for him to exhibit his talents to teams in Asia.