The New York Yankees released 20-year-old Kevin Centeno on Tuesday, per the Minor League Baseball transaction log.
Centeno was not a household name or even close to reaching the big leagues. However, the left-handed pitcher had topped out at 97 mph on the mound and racked up strikeouts at a very high clip. He was signed as part of the Yankees 2025 international free agent class.
He debuted in the Dominican Summer League with the Bombers and notched 53 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings of work. He had a 4.3 strikeouts per nine innings, but he was a little wild.
He hit nine batters, issued 23 walks and had nine wild pitches in his first season with the organization. However, the potential was there for him.
This season, he had 28 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings of work, but once again struggled with control. He issued 23 more free passes. In 29 games with the Yankees in rookie ball, he had a 4.91 ERA.
The Venezuelan pitcher is now a free agent and another team could certainly take a chance on him. He's a low-risk addition for any team at this point.
He was nine players signed from Venezuela by the Yankees as part of the 2025 international signing period.