Carlos Gutierrez

Carlos Rafael Gutierrez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of Miami
• High School Christopher Columbus High School (Miami)

• Born September 22, 1986 in Miami, FL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Carlos Gutierrez was a first-round draft pick in the 2008 amateur draft.

Gutierrez played basketball and not baseball until he was a high school senior. He was 6-2 with 2 saves and a 2.70 ERA as a senior. Moving on to college, he allowed nine runs in 10 innings as a freshman at the University of Miami. In his sophomore season, Carlos went 9-7 with a 4.40 ERA before injury derailed his season. He had Tommy John surgery and was redshirted, missing all of 2007. In 2008, he returned as a closer.

Gutierrez was the 27th pick of the 2008 amateur draft, taken by the Minnesota Twins; the pick was compensation for the loss of Torii Hunter to free agency. Carlos blew a save in Miami's first game of the 2008 College World Series, thanks to a 2-run error by Gutierrez himself.

Gutierrez was signed by scout Hector Otero and assigned to the Fort Myers Miracle as his first professional stop. He debuted on July 13th, striking out two batters among four he faced and allowing one hit. He went 3-1 with a save and a 2.10 ERA in 16 games but threw 7 wild pitches in 25 2/3 IP. He was the youngest member of Puerto Rico's team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, 3 years younger than Geovany Soto.

In 2009, Gutierrez went 3-6, 3.70 between Fort Myers and the New Britain Rock Cats. He had a 1.32 ERA in 11 games in the Florida State League, but was hit hard in AA, posting a 6.19 ERA in 22 games for New Britain. He was back in the Eastern League in 2010 and did a lot better, although his results overall were still disappointing - a record of 5-8, 4.57 in 32 games, half of them starts. he also pitched twice in AAA for the Rochester Red Wings. He was back in Rochester for all of 2011, where he was used exclusively as a reliever. His record in 43 games was 2-3, 4.62. He did not record a save, but struck out 57 in 62 1/3 innings.