Without much fanfare or official noise, the Cincinnati Reds have quietly released veteran pitcher Albert Abreu, bringing an end to what many had hoped would be a successful comeback story. The move, listed discreetly in the minor-league transaction log on Monday, went largely unnoticed by fans amid a busy stretch for the organization’s bullpen.
Abreu, a former New York Yankees reliever, signed a minor-league deal with the Reds earlier this year after spending the 2024 season overseas with the Seibu Lions in Japan. The 29-year-old looked promising in Cactus League action, posting a 1.50 ERA in six spring appearances. However, those numbers didn’t tell the full story — Abreu struck out just one batter out of 27 faced and failed to generate the swing-and-miss stuff needed to earn a spot on the major league roster.
He was assigned to Triple-A Louisville with the hope of pitching his way back into big-league relevance. But control issues quickly resurfaced. After starting the season on the restricted list, Abreu made 17 appearances with the Bats, posting a 5.79 ERA across 23 ⅓ innings. While he generated an impressive 59.2% ground-ball rate, his command never clicked — issuing 16 walks and recording just 18 strikeouts.
Once viewed as a power arm with upside, Abreu’s decline in velocity and effectiveness has now put his professional future in doubt. His best stretch came years earlier, in 2021, when he struck out over 43% of batters he faced in the minors. That version of Abreu never reappeared.
Meanwhile, the Reds’ bullpen continues to evolve. Cincinnati recently added former Red Sox reliever Brian Van Belle to the 40-man roster, signaling a potential shift in bullpen priorities. With promising arms like Yosver Zulueta, Luis Mey, Joe La Sorsa, and top prospect Zach Maxwell all in the pipeline — not to mention the potential return of Tejay Antone — Abreu simply became the odd man out.
Though it happened with little buzz or attention, Abreu’s release marks the end of a short, quiet chapter in Cincinnati. If the right-hander wants to continue chasing his MLB dream, it will have to be with a new organization — and perhaps a new start entirely.