Johnny Cueto is a Dominican professional baseball player who has had a successful career in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a right-handed pitcher who has played for several teams throughout his career, including the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Cueto began his professional career in 2004 when he signed with the Reds as an amateur free agent. He made his MLB debut in 2008 and quickly established himself as one of the team's top pitchers. In 2011, he had his best season with the Reds, finishing with a 2.31 earned run average (ERA) and 19 wins, which earned him a fourth-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
In 2015, Cueto was traded to the Royals, where he helped lead the team to a World Series championship. He was dominant in the postseason, posting a 2.47 ERA in five starts, including a complete game victory in Game 2 of the World Series.
After his stint with the Royals, Cueto signed a six-year, $130 million contract with the Giants in 2016. He had a solid first season with the team, finishing with a 2.79 ERA and 18 wins. However, he struggled with injuries in the following seasons and was limited to just 13 starts in 2018.
In 2020, Cueto had a bounce-back season with the Giants, finishing with a 5-2 record and a 3.62 ERA in 12 starts. He also recorded his 2,000th career strikeout that season. In 2021, he was traded to the Blue Jays, where he finished out his career.
Overall, Cueto had a successful career in MLB, finishing with a career record of 135-92 and a 3.50 ERA. He was a two-time All-Star and finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting three times. He was known for his unique windup and delivery, which made him difficult for batters to pick up the ball.
⚾