Thyago Vieira emptied his Milwaukee Brewers-colored duffle bag into his new locker in a new clubhouse for his new team and began introducing himself to his new teammates Monday morning.
Baltimore acquired the right-handed reliever Saturday morning in a deal with Milwaukee that also brought in minor league right-hander Aneuris Rodriguez in exchange for minor league right-hander Garrett Stallings. Vieira was activated Monday and lefty pitcher Nick Vespi was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was one of the first to greet Vieira, who is set to join what has been an inconsistent bullpen.
“I don’t know a ton about him, except we’ve seen him a couple times in Milwaukee,” Hyde said. Vieira pitched five innings over three games and gave up two hits to the Orioles since 2017. “He has a huge arm. We’re always looking for stuff guys in our bullpen and he has that. So we’ll see what we got.”
The 31-year-old has split his five-year major league career between stints with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Brewers. He also played for Japan’s Yomiuri Giants from 2020 to 2022, which provided a familiar face on his first day in Baltimore. Albert Suarez spent three seasons pitching in the same league from 2019 to 2021, and while the pitchers never shared a clubhouse in Japan, Vieira was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face.
Vieira is one of just five Brazilian players to appear in an MLB game. He’ll become the first Oriole. And Vieira admitted he’s ecstatic about the move.
“I’m really, really happy and excited to join these guys,” he said. “I was really glad when I received the news because this team is winning. The young kids, they’re hungry and they wanna play well. They hustle every single day, so I’m glad to be here with that energy.”
Vieira feels he can augment the energy in Baltimore from his post in the bullpen.
In 22 1/3 innings this year, he has posted a 5.64 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 13 walks, while surrendering six home runs.
“I feel like I can help a lot,” Vieira said. “I can bring a lot of emotional energy and help the team in any spot I’m needed. I’m ready for that. I’ve worked myself for that. That’s why I think they picked me up too. They believe in me and I believe in myself too. So now, we’re together [getting] on the same page. Just have to trust my stuff and trust the team we have and we’ll be in a good spot.”