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Blue Jays: Former top 30 prospect Yosver Zulueta traded to Chicago Cubs
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Photo credit: © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jun 16, 2026, 10:05 EDT
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A former Toronto Blue Jays top 30-ranked prospect found himself on the move on Monday. 
Right-hander Yosver Zulueta, whom the Blue Jays originally signed as an International Free Agent in 2019, was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Chicago Cubs and was immediately optioned to Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs. 
After signing in 2019, Zulueta missed the 2020 season due to the global pandemic as well as Tommy John surgery. In 2021, Zulueta was set for his long-awaited debut after surgery, before he blew out his ACL three pitches into his professional debut, costing him the entirety of the 2021 season. 
Zulueta returned for the 2022 season and quickly rose through the Blue Jays’ minor league ranks, working his way up from Single-A Dunedin to Triple-A Buffalo to close out his season. Zulueta went from the number 19th ranked prospect to begin 2022 to the third-ranked prospect when the 2023 list came out after posting a 2-5 record, a 3.72 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 55.2 innings across four levels. 
The young right-hander flashed wicked strikeout potential, highlighted by 84 punchouts over his 55.2 frames while also holding opposing batters to a .199 average. Zulueta was slowly becoming a prospect that fans were becoming excited about as the 2022 season finished. 
After climbing four levels, the Blue Jays returned Zulueta to Buffalo for the 2023 season, and once again, the righty put together a strong showing. Zulueta appeared in 45 games and posted a record of 4-4, an ERA of 4.08 and a WHIP of 1.53. The strikeout ability remained as Zulueta retired 73 batters via strikeout over his 64 frames. 
He entered 2024 with a strong shot to make his MLB debut, but was surprisingly designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on March 28, 2024, to make room on the 40-man roster. After being sent to waivers, Zulueta was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, and after putting together a strong first half in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats, Zulueta was called up for his MLB debut on June 25, 2025. 
Zulueta appeared in 12 games with the Reds over the course of the 2024 season and posted a 4.96 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 16.2 innings pitched. The right-hander held opposing teams to a .246 average and struck out 20 batters. 
Zulueta remained with the Reds for the 2025 season, bouncing between Triple-A and MLB. In seven MLB games, Zulueta went 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. The right-hander picked up his first career win on September 1, 2025, against the Blue Jays after tossing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning during the Reds’ 5-4 win. 
The Reds DFA’d Zulueta on January 15, 2026, before eventually trading him to the Mariners later that day. The Mariners optioned Zulueta to Triple-A Tacoma, where he has spent the entire 2026 season to this point. In 22 games in Seattle’s organization, Zulueta went 2-3 with a 5.75 ERA and 1.77 WHIP across 20.1 innings pitched before being moved on Monday. 
Zulueta holds a 1-0 record, 5.32 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 19 career MLB outings. The Cubs hope that, as he makes his way to his fourth organization, Zulueta will unlock some of the potential that ranked him third overall on the Blue Jays’ top 30 prospect list in 2023. 

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