José Cuas
José Luis Cuas (kwas;[1] born June 28, 1994) is a Dominican-American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
José Cuas | |
---|---|
![]() Cuas with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2022 | |
Kansas City Royals – No. 74 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | June 28, 1994|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 31, 2022, for the Kansas City Royals | |
MLB statistics (through April 22, 2023) | |
Win–loss record | 5–2 |
Earned run average | 4.21 |
Strikeouts | 48 |
Teams | |
|
Amateur career
Cuas attended Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn, New York.[2] Cuas was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 40th round of the 2012 MLB draft but did not sign. He attended the University of Maryland where he played college baseball for the Terrapins.[3] In 2014, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4] Cuas was a three-year starter as an infielder at Maryland, and enjoyed his best season as a junior in 2015, hitting .242/.329/.442/.771 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI.[5] He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 2015 MLB draft and signed with them.[6]
Professional career
Milwaukee Brewers
Cuas spent his debut season of 2015 with the Helena Brewers, hitting .260/.319/.430/.749 with 7 home runs and 40 RBI. He spent the 2017 season with the Brevard County Manatees, hitting .170/.263/.240/.503 with 4 home runs and 27 RBI. Cuas split the 2017 season between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Carolina Mudcats, hitting a combined .187/.277/.321/.598 with 5 home runs and 28 RBI.[7]
Cuas was converted to a pitcher prior to the 2018 season.[8] He opened the season with Wisconsin, going 2–0 with an 8.38 ERA over 19+1⁄3 innings before being released on July 10.[9]
Long Island Ducks
He signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League and finished the season with them going 2–1 with a 2.38 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 22+2⁄3 innings. Cuas opened the 2019 season back with Long Island.
It was with the Ducks that Cuas began pitching sidearm. Cuas had been throwing sidearm while warming up until, on the advice of Ducks teammate Francisco Rodríguez, he began to work on throwing sidearm full-time.[10]
Arizona Diamondbacks
He was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 25.[11] Between the Hillsboro Hops, the Kane County Cougars, and the Visalia Rawhide, Cuas posted a combined 6–3 record with a 1.60 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 45 innings.[7][12] Cuas was released by Arizona and did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuas took a job as a FedEx delivery driver during the day and trained with his younger brother in a park in Brooklyn at night.[10]
Kansas City Royals
Cuas opened the 2021 season back with the Long Island Ducks and threw 11 scoreless innings before being signed by the Kansas City Royals.[13]

Cuas split his affiliated time in 2021 between the ACL Royals, the Northwest Arkansas, and the Omaha Storm Chasers, going a combined 5–1 with a 1.51 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 41+2⁄3 innings.[8] He received a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training in 2022.[14]
On May 30, Kansas City selected Cuas' contract and promoted him to the Major Leagues for the first time.[15] He made his Major League debut the following day against the Cleveland Guardians.[16] He struck out the first batter he faced, Oscar Mercado, and retired the next two hitters in order for a perfect inning of relief.[17]
Personal life
At the time of his Major League debut, Cuas had a four-year-old son and one-year-old daughter with his longtime girlfriend.[10]
His younger brother, Alex, played college baseball at Towson.[10][18]
References
- pressbox.athletics.com (PDF) https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/MLB%20Publications/2022%20Player%20Name%20Presentations%20&%20Pronunciation%20Guide.pdf. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - Braziller, Zach (July 6, 2012). "Grand Street's Cuas facing Major decision as Blue Jays up ante". New York Post. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- Seth Abramson, and Seth Walder. "Grand Street Campus shortstop demands $500,000 signing bonus, so Blue Jays pass on him in 10th round and take him in 40th round instead". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- "#11 Jose Cuas - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- "Milwaukee Brewers 2015 MLB Draft capsules". FOXSports.com. June 9, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- Vittas, John (June 10, 2015). "Jose Cuas selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th Round". Maryland Baseball Network. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- "Jose Cuas Amateur, College, Minor, Independent & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- Lewis, Alec (March 16, 2022). "From FedEx driver to Francisco Rodríguez pupil: The odyssey of Royals reliever Jose Cuas". The Athletic. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- "Jose Cuas Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- Rogers, Anne (May 31, 2022). "Converted pitcher Cuas makes it from FedEx to MLB". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- "LI Ducks Re-Sign Grand Street Campus High School Alum Jose Cuas". Brooklyn Sports World/The Sports Scope. April 12, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- "Ducks Re-Sign Righty Reliever Jose Cuas". The Atlantic League of Baseball. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- "Jose Cuas' Contract Purchased by Royals". Our Sports Central. June 17, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- Rogers, Anne (March 13, 2022). "Witt Jr. tops Royals' list of 21 non-roster invitees". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- The, AP (May 30, 2022). "Royals' Greinke put on IL with right flexor strain". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- "Jose Cuas Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- "Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Guardians Box Score, May 31, 2022". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- "Alex Cuas Amateur & College Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Maryland Terrapins bio