The very mention of ’s name still stirs fond memories in many fans. It probably always will. The sentiment is understandable: Cueto helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series for their first championship in 30 years.
Now, at age 38, the right-hander is back in the majors. But this time he’s pitching the Royals. Cueto was back on the mound at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday evening.
He got the start for his current team, the , in the finale of a three-game series. Cueto last pitched in the with the . He was called up Tuesday from the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City — L.
A. acquired him last month after he opted out of an assignment with his previous team, the . The and Royals split their first two games at Kauffman Stadium this week, so L.
A. was hoping Cueto might help them win the series. Now with his sixth MLB club in a career spanning more than a decade and a half, he’s certainly capable of lending some veteran presence to a big-league clubhouse.
“I don’t know if he can come up here right now and start being a leader,” Angels manager Ron Washington told reporters after Tuesday night’s game. “He’s worried about being Cueto. If he happens to stay around, I think he definitely can influence our young kids.
” Cueto had been 5-1 with a 4.76 earned-run average in 13 minor-league starts this year. He has a career major-league record of 144-111 and lifetime ERA of 3.
50. He went just 4-7 (4.76 ERA) in his half-season with the Royals, but that probably .