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The Cuban left-handed pitcher Cionel Pérez was informed this Monday that he has secured a spot on the roster of the Washington Nationals for the Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season, according to a report from the site Pelota Cubana.
The highlight of the achievement is the way Pérez accomplished it: he started outside of the 40-man roster, a disadvantageous position that makes it particularly challenging to earn a spot on the major league team during Spring Training.
"Cionel, 29 years old, achieved something very difficult in these times, which is coming from outside the 40-man roster to earn a spot in spring training. He worked 6 innings without any earned runs, with 5 strikeouts and speeds of 95-98 mph in Spring Training," wrote, meanwhile, the journalist Francys Romero.
The 29-year-old from Matanzas arrived in Washington after signing a minor league contract on February 15, with an invitation to Spring Training, after attracting the interest of more than 10 MLB organizations thanks to a showcase where he displayed speeds of 98-99 mph and outstanding physical condition. In that training camp, Pérez recorded a WHIP of 0.50, a figure that reflects the level of dominance he demonstrated in his appearances.
The left-hander arrives in Washington after a forgettable 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles, where he posted an earned run average of 8.31 in 19 appearances before being designated for assignment on May 24 of that year. His subsequent stint at Triple-A Norfolk was no better, with an earned run average of 6.85 in 21 games, and he ended up as a free agent on September 29, 2025.
This return to Major League Baseball marks a remarkable comeback for a pitcher who hit rock bottom last year. In his career, he has accumulated 257 games, a record of 15-6, an ERA of 4.22, and 218 strikeouts in 237 innings pitched. His best moment came in 2022, also with Baltimore, when he recorded a 1.40 ERA and was considered one of the best moves by general manager Mike Elias.
Nativ e of Matanzas, Pérez played two seasons in the Cuban National Series before signing with the Houston Astros in 2016 for two million dollars. He made his MLB debut on July 11, 2018, and later wore the jerseys of the Cincinnati Reds and the Orioles before joining the Nationals.
In the projected bullpen for Washington on Opening Day 2026, Pérez will share responsibilities with Cole Henry, Clayton Beeter, Drew Smith, Jackson Rutledge, Griff McGarry, Brad Lord, and PJ Poulin. FanGraphs projects the Cuban for 57 appearances during the season with a strikeout rate of 19.6%, figures that, if realized, would confirm that the left-handed pitcher from Matanzas has regained his best form.
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