Eduardo José Salazar Bio
Eduardo José Salazar (born May 5, 1998) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. The right-handed pitcher has appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals spanning from 2023 to 2025. Salazar began his professional career as an international free agent signing in 2017 and steadily worked his way through the minor leagues before earning his first major league call-up at age 25.
Eduardo José Salazar Career
Early Career and Minor League Development (2017–2022)
Salazar signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent on March 4, 2017, and made his professional debut that same year with the Dominican Summer League Reds. He spent the 2018 season split between the rookie-level Arizona League Reds and Greeneville Reds, posting a cumulative 5.83 earned run average with 26 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.
The Venezuelan hurler advanced to High-A Dayton Dragons in 2019, where he recorded a 6–3 record and 3.81 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 106 and one-third innings across 35 games with 11 starts. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Salazar from playing in any official games. He returned in 2021 with Dayton, making one start for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts at the end of the season, finishing with a 4–5 record and 3.49 ERA in 19 starts for Dayton.
Salazar spent the entire 2022 season with Double-A Chattanooga, starting 27 games and registering a 6–10 record with a 5.16 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 125 and two-thirds innings pitched. This full season as a starter provided him with valuable experience handling a heavy workload in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
Cincinnati Reds Breakthrough (2023)
Salazar was converted from a starter to a relief pitcher for the 2023 season. He began the year with Double-A Chattanooga before being promoted to Triple-A Louisville Bats after posting a minuscule 0.68 ERA in nine appearances. In three games with Louisville, he allowed no runs with one walk and three strikeouts in four and one-third innings.
On May 24, 2023, Salazar was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut with one inning of work against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one. His first MLB strikeout came against Nolan Gorman. In eight appearances for the Reds, Salazar had an 8.03 ERA with five strikeouts in 12 and one-third innings pitched. On August 11, 2023, he was designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster. After finishing the season with Louisville, he became a free agent on November 6.
Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners (2024)
On November 16, 2023, Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club to start the 2024 season. The Dodgers selected his contract to the major league roster on April 16, 2024, however he was optioned back to the minors the following day without appearing in a game. He rejoined the majors and pitched two innings in a game on May 15, giving up three hits and two walks but no earned runs. He also made seven starts for Oklahoma City with a 5.61 ERA before the Dodgers designated him for assignment on May 20.
On May 23, 2024, Salazar was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. In four games for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, he compiled a 5.40 ERA with one strikeout across three and one-third innings. On June 9, the Mariners designated him for assignment.
Washington Nationals (2024–2025)
On June 13, 2024, Salazar was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals. He made 25 appearances for Washington during the remainder of the 2024 season, posting an 0–1 record and a 2.96 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 27 and one-third innings pitched. The performance demonstrated his ability to contribute effectively at the major league level as a reliever.
Salazar made 30 appearances for the Nationals in 2025, but struggled to an 0–1 record and 8.38 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 29 innings of work. On October 29, 2025, Salazar was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He subsequently rejected the assignment in favor of free agency, concluding his tenure with the Nationals organization.
Minnesota Twins (2026)
On February 3, 2026, Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization, providing him with an opportunity to rebuild his career and work toward another major league opportunity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Salazar reached the major leagues after six years of minor league development, debuting with the Cincinnati Reds on May 24, 2023. His first MLB strikeout was recorded against Nolan Gorman of the St. Louis Cardinals during his debut appearance. Throughout his MLB career spanning three organizations in less than three years, Salazar has demonstrated the ability to work effectively as a multi-inning reliever while showing the flexibility to serve as an opener when needed.
Eduardo José Salazar Career Statistics
Across his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals, Salazar has accumulated limited but valuable major league experience. His career win-loss record stands at 1–2 with a 5.99 earned run average and 55 strikeouts across his brief major league appearances.
| League | Games | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts | Innings Pitched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Baseball | 41 | 1 | 2 | 5.99 | 55 | 55.1 |
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved challenging for Salazar with the Washington Nationals. After a solid showing following his mid-June arrival in 2024, Salazar struggled to maintain that momentum across a full 30-appearance campaign in 2025. His 8.38 ERA reflected significant difficulties, though his strikeout rate remained competitive at roughly 7.1 per nine innings.
The Nationals ultimately decided to part ways with Salazar at the end of the season, removing him from the 40-man roster and outrighting him to Triple-A Rochester. Salazar declined the assignment, choosing free agency instead. His career totals through the 2025 season show one career win against two losses with a 5.99 ERA and 55 strikeouts across approximately 55 innings of major league work.