Of the foreign signings for the Samanes de Aragua this season, Geonel Gutiérrez has be the most fruitful. The left-hander from Artemisa, Cuba has a record of 2-0 and leads the Liga Mayor with a 1.00 earned run average during the early stages of the campaign.
But the funny thing is that the southpaw is still getting accustomed to some of the league’s regulations, which differ from Cuba and the talent level of the hitters in the LMBP. With all that being said Gutiérrez has still looked very dominant on the hill for the Samanes.
With his impressive showing on the mound sources tell me he might be in the sights of a couple of winter league teams after the season in Venezuela. Once Gutiérrez settles in it wouldn’t be ludicrous to think he could be on a short list for pitcher of the year in the Liga Mayor.
Tell me what adjustments have you had to make from the Serie Nacional to the Liga Mayor de Béisbol?
Yes, I have had to make adjustments here in the Liga Mayor because the regulations in Cuba are not the same. The umpires call the pitches above the solar plexus as strikes and the hitters are more cerebral when it comes to hitting. Also the games are at night, there is a lot of humidity and heat, but I’m making my adjustments every game and things are going well.
Compare the level of play in the LMBP to the Serie Nacional?
The biggest difference in the Venezuelan League is that here some of the hitters have big league experience and when it comes to hitting they think a little more, the talent level is a little higher than that of the Serie Nacional.
You’ve been compared to Yoennis Yera because of your physical similarities and pitching styles, what do you think about that comparison?
I don’t know why they compare me to Yera. I think we don’t have the same characteristics, because I pitch across my body and he doesn’t throw like that, nor do we throw the same pitches.
How has having your countrymen Jose Ramón Rodríguez on the pitching staff helped your level of comfort with the Samanes?
I am also happy to be with José Ramón, here we help each other on and off the field.
How have you adapted to pitching with the clock?
I have had to work on it a bit, but I have been able to make the adjustment in my mechanics for it and I’m adapting well to pitch clock.
What impact has professional baseball had on you during this month that you have been in Venezuela?
As I said before, the main impact of this professional baseball is that the hitters think differently, they have experience in the different professional circuits. In addition. At least here with Samanes we have very good medical staff, excellent gyms and the league itself has a good level competitiveness . It is a very offensive tournament, so in each outing you have to maintain exquisite concentration and study your opponent well.
Do you have any offers to play winter ball as of yet?
I believe that pitching in Venezuela has given me the opportunity to open doors for a possible signing in the Venezuelan and Mexican Winter Leagues, but as of right now I still don’t have an offer from any team for the winter.