Helcris

Olivarez

Olivarez fortifies Kansas City’s left-handed relief depth heading into spring training after spending last year in the Giants’ minor-league system. The 25-year-old southpaw was a somewhat notable prospect with the Rockies a couple years ago when he was added to their 40-man roster, but has yet to ascend to the big leagues. He compiled a pedestrian 5.84 ERA and 46/43 K/BB ratio across 37 innings over 34 appearances in the upper minors last year. He’s a low-risk depth addition and will likely open up at Triple-A Omaha next season.

Alcántara and Garza are the most prominent inclusions among the latest batch of cuts for San Francisco as they continue to pare down their camp roster. Olivarez was a notable pitching prospect a couple years ago, but has been derailed by injuries.

Olivarez joins the Giants after ending the 2024 season with San Francisco at the Double-A level. He’ll be a left-handed relief option in the upper minors for the 2025 campaign.

Olivarez was signed to a minor league contract this offseason after missing all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery. He’s a high-velocity pitcher with a fastball in the triple-digits but he needs more refinement. German was once a potential closer-of-the-future in the Red Sox minor league system but was traded to Cincinnati in 2022 and has struggled in Triple-A over the past two seasons. He’s still 26 years old, so the Red Sox will hope to get his development back on track.

Olivarez missed all of 2023 while recovering from major shoulder surgery and will likely open the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Worcester. Despite battling injuries, The former top prospect with the Rockies, who previously hit 101 mph on his fastball, holds minor league career marks of 10.4 strikeouts per-nine and a 4.32 ERA in 50 starts. The 23-year-old southpaw represents a worthwhile low-risk lottery ticket for Boston’s new-look front office under president of baseball operations Craig Breslow.

Olivarez missed nearly the entire 2022 season due to a left shoulder strain. The 22-year-old southpaw has been removed from the Rockies’ 40-man roster, but will remain with the organization. He should open the 2023 season at Double-A Hartford.

Olivarez fired two scoreless innings last Friday in a minor league rehab appearance for the Rockies’ rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate as he works his way back from a left scapula strain. He’s been out since spring training due to left shoulder issues and will require a lengthy rehab program, but could progress to Double-A at some point later this year.

Olivarez has been summoned from the minors and placed on the 60-day day injured list in a procedural move to open up a 40-man roster spot for reliever Chad Smith. The 21-year-old lefty was added to the Rockies’ 40-man roster last November and has been sidelined due to a left shoulder strain.

The 20-year-old left-hander -- who was signed out of the Dominican Republic -- has yet to pitch above Rookie league ball. He owns a career 3.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 177/74 K/BB ratio over 148 1/3 innings in the minor leagues. He’s an intriguing arm, but needs to drastically improve on his command and is several years away from being an option at the big league level.