The Cincinnati Reds have officially signed right-handed reliever Albert Abreu, finalizing an agreement that was initially reported last week. Abreu, who spent the 2024 season pitching in Japan, will return to the U.S. for the 2025 season. During his time in Japan, he posted a solid 2.39 ERA over 49 innings, striking out 33 batters while walking 20 (three of which were intentional) in 52 games. Although the ERA seems impressive, it’s worth noting that Japan’s league in 2024 was highly pitcher-friendly, with the average ERA across the league sitting at 3.04.
Before heading overseas, Abreu played in Major League Baseball from 2020 to 2023 for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. Over the course of four MLB seasons, he accumulated 135.2 innings pitched and a 4.58 ERA. He struck out 136 batters and issued 78 walks during that stretch, giving him a decent but not standout career in the majors.
As part of the Reds’ plans for the 2025 season, the team has invited Abreu to attend big league spring training, which increases the total number of players in camp to 59, including 31 pitchers. Of those 31 pitchers, 11 are not currently on the 40-man roster, and one—veteran Wade Miley—won’t be competing for a spot in the rotation due to recovery from Tommy John surgery. Miley is expected to be ready to pitch sometime around May. Additionally, two pitchers from the 40-man roster, Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson, will also be in camp but will miss the entirety of the 2025 season due to their own Tommy John recoveries.
Though pitchers and catchers are officially scheduled to report to the Reds’ spring training facility in Goodyear next week, some players, including Abreu, have already arrived to begin preparing for the season.
