Biography
Eduardo José Salazar (born May 5, 1998) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Career
Cincinnati Reds
On March 4, 2017, Salazar signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent and he made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Reds. He spent the 2018 season split between the rookie-level Arizona League Reds and Greeneville Reds, posting a cumulative 5.83 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched. Salazar spent 2019 with the High-A Dayton Dragons, recording a 6–3 record and 3.81 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 106+1⁄3 innings of work across 35 games (11 starts).
Salazar did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and spent the majority of the 2021 season with High-A Dayton, making one start for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts at the end of the year. In 19 starts for Dayton, he pitched to a 4–5 record and 3.49 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 98 innings of work.
Salazar spent the entire 2022 season with Chattanooga, starting 27 games and registering a 6–10 record and 5.16 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 125+2⁄3 innings pitched. He was converted from a starter to a relief pitcher for the 2023 season, which he began with Double-A Chattanooga before being promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats after posting a minuscule 0.68 ERA in nine appearances. In three games with Louisville, Salazar allowed no runs with one walk and three strikeouts in 4+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On May 24, 2023, Salazar was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his debut with one inning of work against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one. His first MLB strikeout was of Nolan Gorman. In eight appearances for the Reds, he had a 8.03 ERA with five strikeouts in 12+1⁄3 innings pitched. On August 11, he was designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster. After finishing the season with Louisville, he became a free agent on November 6.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On November 16, 2023, Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to the Triple–A Oklahoma City Baseball Club to start the season. The Dodgers selected his contract to the major league roster on April 16, 2024, however he was optioned back to the minors the following day without appearing in a game. He rejoined the majors and pitched two innings in a game on May 15, giving up three hits and two walks but no earned runs. He also made seven starts for Oklahoma City, with a 5.61 ERA. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on May 20.
Seattle Mariners
On May 23, 2024, Salazar was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. In four games for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, he compiled a 5.40 ERA with one strikeout across 3+1⁄3 innings. On June 9, Salazar was designated for assignment by Seattle.
Washington Nationals
On June 13, 2024, Salazar was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.