J. C. Sulbaran

J. C. Sulbaran
Sulbaran pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, in 2015
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1989-11-09) November 9, 1989 (age 35) Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Medals Men's Baseball Representing  Netherlands Baseball World Cup 2011 Panama National team France International Baseball Tournament [fr] 2014 Sénart [fr] National team

Juan Carlos Sulbaran (born November 9, 1989, in Willemstad, Curaçao) is a Dutch-Curaçaoan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played for the Dutch national team. He throws a changeup, curveball and fastball (which peaks at around 90 mph).^{[citation needed]} He played for Team Netherlands in the 2019 European Baseball Championship, at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament, in Italy in September 2019.

Sulbaran was voted the best pitcher in the 2004 Latin American Youth Baseball Tournament while playing for the Netherlands Antilles.^{[citation needed]} He came to the United States in 2006 to play high school baseball. He missed most of 2007 because of an injury, though he struck out 24 in 12 innings.^{[citation needed]} In 2008, he went 11–0 with a 1.40 ERA, striking out 88 in 67 innings and allowing 31 hits to help his team to a state championship.^{[citation needed]}

The Cincinnati Reds selected Sulbaran in the 30th round, 899th overall, of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft (he was drafted late due to his commitment to the University of Florida).^[1] He signed with the Reds on August 14, 2008, with a $500,000 signing bonus which was a record for the 30th round.

Sulbaran made his professional debut in 2009 with the Single-A Dayton Dragons, starting 21 games and logging a 5–5 record and 5.24 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 92.0 innings pitched. He returned to Dayton in 2010, starting another 15 games (with one relief appearance) and pitching to a 4–6 record and 4.99 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 79.1 innings of work.^[2]

In 2011, Sulbaran played for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze. In 26 starts for the team, he worked to a 9–6 record and 4.60 ERA with 155 strikeouts in 137.0 innings pitched. He began the 2012 season with the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Sulbaran started 19 games for Pensacola, pitching to a 7–7 record and 4.04 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 104.2 innings of work.^[3]

On July 31, 2012, Sulbaran was traded to the Kansas City Royals alongside Donnie Joseph in exchange for Jonathan Broxton.^[4] He finished the season making 6 starts for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Sulbaran began the 2013 season with Northwest Arkansas, and also spent time with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks during the year. In 33 combined appearances (10 starts), he struggled to a 4–7 record and 6.16 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched.^[5]

Sulbaran returned to Northwest Arkansas for the entire 2014 season, pitching in 25 games (starting 23) and registering an 8–10 record and 3.25 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 127.1 innings pitched. He split the 2015 season between Northwest Arkansas and the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, making a combined 28 appearances (23 starts) and posting a 7–10 record and 5.24 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 132.1 innings pitched.^[6] Sulbaran elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2015.^[7]

On December 4, 2015, Sulbaran signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He split the 2016 season between the Double-A Springfield Cardinals and Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.^[8] In 28 appearances (27 starts), Sulbaran pitched to a combined 5–10 record and 5.24 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.^[9]

Sulbaran missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a broken collarbone in a car crash shortly after the 2017 World Baseball Classic.^[10]

On June 2, 2018, Sulbaran signed with the Silicon Storks of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse.^[11] In 3 starts for the team, he registered an 0–1 record and 4.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 9.0 innings pitched.

On July 3, 2018, Sulbaran signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association of Professional Baseball.^[12] In 6 starts for the team, Sulbaran pitched to a 1–2 record and 5.97 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work. He was released by the team on August 14.^[13]

On March 22, 2019, Sulbaran signed with DSS of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse to serve as a reinforcement while Nick Keur recovered from Tommy John surgery.^[14] Spending the year with the team, he pitched to a 2–9 record and 4.16 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 75.2 innings pitched across 14 games (13 starts).

Sulbaran joined L&D Amsterdam of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse in 2020. Making 7 starts for the team, he pitched to a 5–2 record and 3.60 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 40.0 innings pitched. After returning to the team in 2021, he started 12 games, pitching to an 8–1 record and pristine 1.61 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 61.1 innings of work.^[15]

On November 20, 2021, Sulbaran was traded to the Curaçao Neptunus of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. The acquisition was made with the intention for Sulbaran to replace Diegomar Markwell in the rotation, who would shift to the bullpen.^[16] Sulbaran started 14 games for the club in 2022, posting a neat 9–2 record and 2.20 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 82.0 innings pitched.

On March 16, 2023, Sulbaran signed with the Lexington Counter Clocks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.^[17] In 12 appearances (7 starts) for the Counter Clocks, he posted a 1–4 record and 7.23 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 37+1⁄3 innings of work. On February 27, 2024, Sulbaran was released by Lexington.^[18]

Sulbaran joined the Netherlands Antilles national baseball team for the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week and got a no-decision against the Cuban national team.^{[citation needed]} He allowed one hit and one run in 7 innings and struck out 6 but walked 7. The only run was a steal of home by Giorvis Duvergel.^{[citation needed]} The performance earned him a spot on the Dutch squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He was the only player on the team who had never appeared for the "Orange" before.^[19]

He has played for Team Netherlands in the 2019 European Baseball Championship, at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019, and at the 2019 WBSC Premier12. He represented the Netherlands national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.^[20]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to J. C. Sulbaran.

• Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Sulbaran's profile at honkbalsite.com (in Dutch)