Guillermo Zuñiga

Guillermo Enrique Zuñiga

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 230 lb.

• Debut May 2, 2023

• Born October 10, 1998 in Cartagena, Bolivar Colombia

BR page

Biographical Information

Guillermo Zuñiga pitched for the Colombian national team before making his major league debut.

He was originally signed as an international amateur free agent by the Atlanta Braves on July 2, 2016 and pitched in their organization for two seasons, going 1-0, 2.61 for the DSL Braves in 2016 and 0-3, 5.59 for the GCL Braves in 2017. On November 21, 2017, he was one of twelve prospects in the Braves system to be declared free agents by Commissioner Rob Manfred in punishment for a scam led by General Manager John Coppolella to divert signing bonuses paid to international free agents. Coppolella was issued a lifetime ban for his role while Zuñiga found work with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 2018, he went 3-1, 3.86 in 12 games for the AZL Dodgers then moved to full-season ball for the first time in 2019. That year, he pitched for both the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, finishing at 4-3, 4.08 in 33 games, including 5 starts. He also picked up 5 saves and struck out 81 batters in 68 1/3 innings. However, he had to sit out the 2020 season when the minor leagues were shut down by the Coronavirus pandemic. Coming back in 2021, he pitched 25 times in relief with the Tulsa Drillers of the Double-A Central, with an ERA of 3.06 in a season in which he missed almost two months because of injuries. He was back in Tulsa in 2022, with the circuit having reverted to its traditional name of Texas League, and went 4-4, 4.77 in 48 games with 11 saves. He struck out 66 batters 9n 54 2/3 innings.

He became a free agent after the 2022 season and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. He joined Colombia for the 2023 World Baseball Classic and in its opening game against Mexico on March 10th, he had a great outing, extinguishing a threat in the 9th inning by striking out Alex Verdugo with the tying run in scoring position, and then preserving a 5-4 lead in the 10th after ghost runner Jarren Duran had stolen third base by striking out Isaac Paredes. In the outing, he struck out four batters in two innings and flashed three-digit heat on his fastball. He made his major league debut less than two months later, called up to replace Zack Thompson. He pitched in relief for the Cardinals in a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 2, 2023. Replacing Chris Stratton, he pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning, striking out Chad Wallach and Mike Trout sandwiched between a Zach Neto fly.

Related Sites

• Guillermo Zuñiga on mlb.com
• BR Minors page