Emilio Enrique Pagán Bio
Emilio Enrique Pagán is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. Born on May 7, 1991, Pagán has built a durable career as a right-handed reliever with stints on six Major League rosters. He has previously pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins. Pagán also competes internationally for the Puerto Rico national baseball team.
A former 10th-round draft pick out of Belmont Abbey College, Pagán has developed into one of the more versatile relief arms available in Major League Baseball. His career numbers through mid-2026 include a 30–28 win–loss record, a 3.73 earned run average, 593 strikeouts, and 71 saves across more than 500 innings pitched. His experience spanning six organizations underscores his adaptability and his value as a veteran presence in any bullpen.
Early Life and Background
Emilio Enrique Pagán was born on May 7, 1991, and was raised in Greenville, South Carolina. He attended J. L. Mann High School, where he first attracted attention as a hard-throwing pitching prospect in the Upstate region. Pagán carried that momentum into his college career at Belmont Abbey College, a private Catholic liberal arts institution located in nearby Belmont, North Carolina. His production on the mound for the Belmont Abbey Crusaders placed him on the radar of Major League scouts and positioned him for a professional opportunity after his junior season.
The Seattle Mariners selected Pagán in the 10th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, signing him to begin his climb through the organization’s minor league system. His path from a small college in North Carolina to the highest level of professional baseball required steady development at every level of the minors. Pagán’s early professional seasons demonstrated that his college success was not a fluke and that he had the stuff and the mindset to compete at higher classifications.
Path to Baseball
After signing with the Seattle Mariners following the 2013 draft, Pagán began his professional career that summer with the Pulaski Mariners of the Appalachian League. He was quickly promoted to the Everett AquaSox in August, where his stuff proved too much for Single-A hitters. Across 26.1 relief innings between the two clubs, he posted a 1.03 earned run average and struck out 35 batters, a rate that foreshadowed the swing-and-miss ability he would later bring to Major League stadiums.
Pagán continued to climb the Mariners’ farm system over the next three seasons. In 2014, he pitched for the Clinton LumberKings and compiled a 2–3 record with a 2.89 earned run average in 42 relief appearances at the Single-A level. He advanced to the High-A Bakersfield Blaze in 2015 and posted a 2.53 earned run average, though he took a step back in the win column with a 3–8 record. In 2016, Pagán reached the Double-A and Triple-A levels with the Jackson Generals and Tacoma Rainiers, posting a combined 5–3 record and a 2.49 earned run average in 65 innings out of the bullpen. That final season at Triple-A earned him a promotion to Seattle’s 40-man roster and an invitation to Major League spring training the following year.
Emilio Enrique Pagán Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Pagán’s minor league career unfolded quickly after the Mariners drafted him in 2013. His first summer in professional baseball produced eye-catching numbers, and he carried that momentum through successive promotions each year. The 2016 season at Double-A and Triple-A represented his true breakthrough, as he proved capable of dominating hitters at the highest minor league level and handling the physical demands of an entire season in the bullpen. By the end of 2016, Pagán had established himself as one of the top relief pitching prospects in the Mariners’ system.
He opened the 2017 season at Triple-A Tacoma and received his first Major League call-up on May 2. Two days later, Pagán made his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Safeco Field. The promotion was a culmination of years of development, though his path in 2017 included repeated shuttles between Seattle and Tacoma. A recall on July 7 ended the back-and-forth, and he remained with the Mariners for the rest of the year. Across 34 Major League relief appearances, he finished the season with a 3.22 earned run average and a 2–3 record. He also appeared in 23 games for Tacoma, where he posted a 2.56 earned run average.
Oakland Athletics Era (2018)
The Seattle Mariners traded Pagán and minor leaguer Alexander Campos to the Oakland Athletics on November 15, 2017, in exchange for infielder Ryon Healy. Pagán began the 2018 season in Oakland’s bullpen but was sent down to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on May 2. He earned his recall on May 18 and spent the remainder of the season alternating between the Major Leagues and Triple-A. The trade gave Pagán his first opportunity to compete for a larger role in a new organization, setting the stage for the breakout that would follow.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2019–2020)
The Oakland Athletics traded Pagán to the Tampa Bay Rays on December 21, 2018, in a three-team deal that also involved the Texas Rangers. The Rays acquired Pagán, Rollie Lacy, and a competitive balance draft pick. In 2019, after an impressive spring training, the Rays sent Pagán to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. A fractured toe suffered by Blake Snell prompted his recall on April 16. After a brief return to Triple-A, Pagán settled into the Rays’ bullpen for good in late April and soon emerged as the team’s closer. He finished the 2019 season with 20 saves, a 2.31 earned run average, and 96 strikeouts in 70 innings, establishing himself as one of the most effective late-inning arms in the American League. The 2020 season proved more difficult, as Pagán blew four saves and posted a 7.36 earned run average through August 20. He rebounded after that point, recording 10 scoreless innings and finishing the shortened season with a 4.50 earned run average.
San Diego Padres Era (2020–2021)
The Tampa Bay Rays traded Pagán to the San Diego Padres on February 8, 2020, in exchange for outfielder Manuel Margot and minor leaguer Logan Driscoll. Pagán joined a Padres bullpen that was rapidly ascending into the upper echelon of the National League. He pitched to a 4.50 earned run average in 2020 and a 4.83 earned run average in 2021 across two seasons in San Diego. While the numbers fell short of his 2019 standard, Pagán provided the Padres with veteran depth and experience during their push for postseason contention.
Minnesota Twins Era (2022–2023)
The San Diego Padres traded Pagán, Chris Paddack, and a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins on April 7, 2022. The Twins sent Taylor Rogers, Brent Rooker, and cash considerations to San Diego. Pagán appeared in 59 relief games for the Twins in 2022, posting a 4.43 earned run average with a 4–6 record and nine saves. The following season, Pagán and the Twins avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract. In 2023, he improved significantly to a 2.99 earned run average with a 5–2 record and one save. On September 30, 2023, Pagán made his first career Major League start, working as an opener against the Colorado Rockies, a milestone that highlighted his adaptability and the trust the Twins placed in him.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2024–Present)
The Cincinnati Reds signed Pagán to a one-year contract on December 1, 2023, adding an experienced right-hander to their bullpen for the 2024 season. He opened the year working out of Cincinnati’s relief corps, but a right lat strain sidelined him on June 9. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 27 and activated on August 10. On December 4, 2025, the Reds re-signed Pagán to a two-year contract worth $20 million, keeping him in Cincinnati through the 2026 season.
Pitching Profile and Strengths
Pagán has spent the bulk of his Major League career as a middle and late-inning reliever, with occasional forays into closer and setup roles. His ability to generate swings and misses has been his defining characteristic, highlighted by 96 strikeouts in 70 innings during his 2019 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays. His 2019 season demonstrated that he can handle the highest-leverage innings, as his 20 saves and 2.31 earned run average placed him among the more effective relievers in the American League.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pagán represented the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, pitching two scoreless innings and helping the team capture the silver medal. He returned to the World Baseball Classic in 2023, contributing one scoreless inning as Puerto Rico advanced to the quarterfinals. His first Major League save came during the 2019 season with the Tampa Bay Rays, the same year he reached several career benchmarks in innings pitched, strikeouts, and save opportunities.
Emilio Enrique Pagán Career Stats
Through mid-2026, Emilio Enrique Pagán has compiled more than 500 career innings across parts of nine professional seasons, including stints on six Major League rosters. His 30–28 win–loss record and 3.73 earned run average reflect both the consistency and the variability inherent in relief pitching. His 71 career saves and 593 strikeouts underscore his effectiveness as a high-leverage option, particularly during his standout 2019 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Pagán’s finest individual season came in 2019, when he emerged as the Tampa Bay Rays’ closer and finished with 20 saves, a 2.31 earned run average, and 96 strikeouts in 70 innings. His performance placed him among the best relief pitchers in the American League that year and established his reputation as a legitimate late-inning option. His first Major League start on September 30, 2023, for the Minnesota Twins against the Colorado Rockies marked another career milestone, showing that his skill set extended beyond traditional relief roles.
Other Performances
Beyond his Major League career, Pagán has represented the Puerto Rico national baseball team at two World Baseball Classic tournaments. He contributed two scoreless innings during Puerto Rico’s silver medal run in 2017 and added one more scoreless inning in the 2023 edition as the team reached the quarterfinals. His international play has added an important dimension to his career, placing him alongside some of the finest players in Puerto Rican baseball history on the world’s biggest stage.