Yapson Gómez

Yapson Guillermo Gómez

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.

• Born October 2, 1993 in San Cristóbal, Táchira Venezuela

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yapson Gómez has pitched in the minors and for the Venezuelan national team.

He was signed by Chicago Cubs scout Rafael Jimenez in April 2013. He was 0-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 12 games for the VSL Cubs that summer. The next year, he improved to 6-2, 1.51 for the same team with only 9 walks in 71 1/3 IP. He was third in the Venezuelan Summer League in ERA and tied Neritzon Osorio for second in wins.

In 2015, he pitched for the VSL Cubs (1-3, Sv, 1.40) and DSL Cubs (5 R, 3 ER in 6 IP). He went 3-1 with a save and a 2.47 ERA for the 2016 AZL Cubs, striking out 50 in 43 2/3 IP. He tied Caleb Baragar and Luis Alecis for 9th in the Arizona League in whiffs. He made his Venezuelan Winter League debut as a LOOGY, pitching one inning (3 H, BB, R) over five appearances (seven batters faced).

He split 2017 between the South Bend Cubs (1-0, Sv, 3.91 in 11 G) and Eugene Emeralds (4-1, Sv, 1.75 in 9 G), striking out 59 in 51 innings. He had a 5.23 ERA in 12 games for Lara that winter. In '18, he was with South Bend (1-2, Sv, 3.58 in 28 G) and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1-2, Sv, 2.45 in 10 G). He was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 games that winter, totaling only 8 innings. The Cleveland Indians' Columbus Clippers picked him in the 2018 Rule V Draft.

The slender southpaw split 2019 between the Lynchburg Hillcats (2-6, 8 Sv, 2.27 in 44 G) and Akron RubberDucks (1-0, 3.38 in 3 G). He was one shy of Argenis Angulo for the Indians chain lead in pitching appearances and Jared Robinson and James Karinchak for third in saves. He tied for 10th in the Carolina League in saves and was second in games pitched, behind Jonathan Teaney. The 2020 minor league season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was superb for the 2020-2021 Cardenales (3-0, 1.33 in 19 G). In a pandemic-shortened campaign, he was one game behind co-leaders Yoimer Camacho and Eduardo Paredes and also tied for 7th in wins. He was excellent for the Caribes de Anzoátegui in the 2021 Caribbean Series (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 3 K). In 2021, he moved on to the Mexican League. After a solid start, he took a break to pitch for Venezuela in the Final Olympic Qualifier.

In his debut for Venezuela, he relieved Luis Madero with a 8-6 deficit in the top of the 7th and none out in the opener against the Dominican national team. He served up a homer to Diego Goris, the third straight Dominican homer. He recovered to retire Ramón Torres and Charlie Valerio (via K) but Gustavo Núñez doubled and Emilio Bonifacio hit into an error to make it 10-6. Harold Chirino then relieved. His other appearance also came against the Dominican Republic, in the finale, with a spot in the Tokyo Olympics at stake, as José Alguacil gave him the starting nod in that crucial contest. He struck out four of the first five batters (Bonifacio, Julio Rodríguez, Juan Francisco, Johan Mieses) and had a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the third. Valerio singled, Núñez hit a double play and Bonifacio drew a walk. While he was doing well, Paredes succeeded him and let Bonifacio score as the Dominicans would rally to win, costing Venezuela an Olympic spot.