No longer unknown, Cano ready to keep soaring in '24

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Few could have predicted that Yennier Cano, an unproven Cuban right-hander who had struggled in limited big league experience, would become one of MLB’s breakout relief pitchers of 2023. Not even the 29-year-old himself.

This past offseason provided Cano with plenty of time to reflect on his stellar rookie season. He and his wife, Arianny Despaigne, would go onto YouTube some days to relive a bunch of the most memorable moments from the Orioles’ American League East-winning campaign.

Cano enjoyed all of the highlights, but his favorite to watch was his appearance in the 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, where he worked a scoreless sixth inning that included strikeouts of the Braves’ Matt Olson and the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos.

“I really, in all honesty, never expected to have that good of a year,” Cano said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “To be able to look back at all of that and see what really occurred, it was awesome.”

In the first half of 2023, Cano was nearly unhittable, recording a 1.48 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP in 37 outings. He finished the season with a 2.11 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over a team-high 72 appearances in his first full year in the organization.

The path from relative unknown to premier setup man was rapid and a bit unexpected. Acquired from Minnesota in the Jorge López trade in August of 2022, Cano had an 18.69 ERA in three appearances with Baltimore, finishing the year with an 11.50 ERA in 13 total MLB outings.

Cano wasn’t viewed as a top candidate to break camp with the Orioles last spring, and although he had a solid showing -- six of his seven Grapefruit League outings were scoreless -- he was sent to Triple-A Norfolk to open the season. He got called up to the Majors in mid-April and immediately pitched well, as the success story was written from there.

It has manager Brandon Hyde looking for the next potential Cano-like breakout in big league camp this year.

“Hopefully, there’s a Yennier Cano there in the locker room,” Hyde said.

Even if there isn’t another Cano-esque tale on the way, there is still Cano. And the O’s are counting on the righty to again be an integral piece in their bullpen in 2024.

Cano’s job is locked in -- he’ll be the primary right-handed setup reliever, often pitching in the eighth inning of games in which Baltimore has a slim lead. Last year, he formed one of the best 1-2 bullpen punches in baseball with fellow All-Star right-hander Félix Bautista. The two became close friends off the field (often driving to Camden Yards together for games) and a dominant duo when following each other to the mound.

“We’re going to miss Félix back there. Especially me, just because we’re like a family and we’re really close,” Cano said. “But I still feel really confident, and I feel really good about this group.”

A new back-end bullpen pairing may be forming in the early weeks of Spring Training.

Cano is eager to pitch ahead of new closer Craig Kimbrel, the 14-year big league veteran with the eighth-most saves in AL/NL history (417). The two have already started to build the camaraderie that is common with relievers, who spend so much time together in the bullpen during a long season.

“From the day I met him, he just greeted me with such a joy and such an energy that it was great to see,” Cano said. “As us Latin players say, it’s that energy that we love to see. I think he’s going to be great, he’s going to fit right in.”

Cano doesn’t have the same track record as Kimbrel. Entering his second full big league season, Cano will likely need to make adjustments as opposing hitters become even more familiar with his stuff.

During the offseason, Cano did more than watch highlights on YouTube. He worked on the command of his sinker so he can throw it with more precision up in the strike zone. He also tried to improve the consistency of his slider, which has the potential to be a strong secondary offering alongside his changeup.

Ask anybody in the Orioles’ clubhouse whether Cano’s sophomore showing can be as impressive as his first, and the responses are overwhelmingly in his favor.

"He’s got electric stuff, man. It’s very unique, too,” said right-hander Jacob Webb, who joined Baltimore’s bullpen last August. “Throws from kind of a funky arm angle, big dude, a lot of levers. It’s fun watching him.”

Added left-hander Danny Coulombe: “Not many guys have stuff like that. I think he can definitely do it again, there’s no doubt in my mind. I mean, look, he’s an elite reliever in this game. I’m just glad he’s on our side.”