Joel Kuhnel

Joel Kenneth Kuhnel (born February 19, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros.

Amateur career
Kuhnel attended Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria, Arizona. Undrafted in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Central Arizona College where he played college baseball.

As a freshman at Central Arizona in 2014, Kuhnel pitched to a 2–0 record with a 1.62 ERA over 39 innings. After the season, he transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2015, his first season with UTA, he went 4–4 with a 3.55 ERA over 16 games (12 starts). As a junior in 2016, Kuhnel compiled a 6–4 record with a 2.99 ERA across 12 starts. After the year, he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 11th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.

Cincinnati Reds
Kuhnel signed with the Reds and made his professional debut with the rookie–level Billings Mustangs, pitching to a 0–1 record and a 3.43 ERA over 18 relief appearances. In 2017, he pitched with the Single–A Dayton Dragons and compiled a 2–4 record, a 4.36 ERA, and 54 strikeouts over 64 relief innings pitched, and in 2018, he played for the High–A Daytona Tortugas, with whom he was named a Florida State League All-Star, going 1–4 with a 3.04 ERA in 44 games pitched out of the bullpen. Kuhnel began 2019 with the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts, earning Southern League All-Star honors, and was promoted to the Triple–A Louisville Bats in June. Over 41 relief appearances between the two teams, he went 5–3 with a 2.18 ERA and fifty strikeouts over $53 2⁄3$ innings.

On August 15, 2019, the Reds selected Kuhnel's contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his major league debut on August 16 versus the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched a total of $9 2⁄3$ innings for the Reds in 2019, going 1–0 with a 4.66 ERA and nine strikeouts. In 2020, Kuhnel pitched to a 6.00 ERA over three games and three innings pitched. On October 26, 2020, he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. He spent all of 2021 in the minor leagues, but missed a majority of the season while dealing with a shoulder injury, and pitched only eight innings throughout the course of the year.

He was assigned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2022 season. On May 8, 2022, Kuhnel was selected to the 40-man and active rosters. In 53 appearances for Cincinnati, Kuhnel worked to a 6.36 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 1 save in 58.0 innings pitched.

In 2023, Kuhnel spent the majority of his time in Louisville, but struggled to a 7.13 ERA across 21 games. In 2 games for Cincinnati, he allowed 3 runs in 6 hits in $3 1⁄3$ innings. On June 13, 2023, Kuhnel was designated for assignment by the Reds following the promotion of Daniel Duarte.

Houston Astros
On June 16, 2023, Kuhnel was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared in 7 games for the Astros, registering a 4.66 ERA with 3 strikeouts across $9 2⁄3$ innings of work.

On January 4, 2024, Kuhnel was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Declan Cronin. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on January 10. However, Kuhnel elected free agency on January 13. Kuhnel re-signed with the Astros on a minor league contract on January 29. On April 12, Kuhnel had his contract selected to the major league roster. He made only one appearance before he was designated for assignment on April 30.

Toronto Blue Jays
On May 4, 2024, Kuhnel was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. He posted a 1.04 ERA in six games for the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, but was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on May 31. Kuhnel cleared waivers and elected free agency on June 4.

Milwaukee Brewers
On June 11, 2024, Kuhnel signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. On June 25, the Brewers selected Kuhnel's contract, adding him to their major league roster. The next day, he was designated for assignment without having appeared for the Brewers. Kuhnel cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Nashville Sounds on June 28. On July 14, Kuhnel was added back to the major league roster. However, he was designated for assignment again on July 21, without having appeared for Milwaukee.