The Cincinnati Reds signed former Yankees reliever Albert Abreu to a minor league deal earlier this spring, hoping he could revitalize his career and contribute to their bullpen. Fans were optimistic that Abreu might make the major league roster, but he failed to regain the form that earned him a call-up back in 2020. According to the minor-league transaction log, the Reds released him on Monday.
Abreu joined the Reds shortly before spring training and performed well statistically in the Cactus League, posting a 1.50 ERA across six outings. After spending 2024 with Japan’s Seibu Lions, his return to the U.S. brought some early promise. However, despite limiting runs, he only struck out one of the 27 batters he faced, allowing eight hits and two walks — a troubling sign for a pitcher trying to re-establish himself.
He was sent to Triple-A Louisville to open the 2025 season, with hopes of a midyear promotion. But Abreu’s struggles to generate strikeouts persisted. Though he was activated off the restricted list in April and made 17 appearances out of the Bats’ bullpen, his command issues remained a problem.
While he produced a strong 59.2% ground ball rate, Abreu couldn’t find the strike zone consistently. Over 23 ⅓ innings, he recorded 18 strikeouts and issued 16 walks, resulting in a 5.79 ERA. The lack of swing-and-miss stuff and control ultimately led the Reds to move on from the 29-year-old, whose best professional season came in 2021.
Meanwhile, other bullpen arms in Louisville are pushing for a big-league opportunity. Yosver Zulueta, Luis Mey, and Joe La Sorsa have already had brief MLB stints, and Reds fans are anticipating the debut of top relief prospect Zach Maxwell. There’s also cautious hope for the return of injured righty Tejay Antone.
The Reds recently added Brian Van Belle, a former Red Sox pitcher, to the 40-man roster — a move that may have influenced their decision to release Abreu. With his time in Cincinnati over, Abreu will need to continue his comeback attempt with another team.
