More than twenty Cuban players affiliated or non-affiliated with the Cuban Baseball Federation are scheduled to action in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (Mexican League) this season. Hard-throwing prospects such as Pavel Hernández and Javier Mirabal will see their first action in a foreign professional league via the FCB.
Yoennis Yera (8-2,3.01) who was stelar last year returns to Tabasco via Cuba to defend the green and yellow. Roel Santos (.411, 16SB) was arguably the best leadoff hitter in the circuit also returns to the Olmecas via the Federation.
Of the players not affiliated with the Cuban Federation Henry Urrutia is the top returnee. The reigning league batting champion Henry Urrutia who has already started fast, hitting .354 in his first 12 games of this campaign. Another non-affiliated player who made a lot of noise with the bat last season and will return this season is Leones de Yucatán slugger Yadir Drake (.328,14HR,61RBI). The ex-Dodger prospect was a key figure in helping the felines win the league title last year.
Of the affiliated righty José Ramón Rodríguez (Tabasco) and Guillermo Avilés (Campeche) might be talented veterans who will be making their debuts in México and might make some noise in the league before it is all said and done.
Two highly touted pitchers that are not FCB and have come to México to exhibit their talents are ex-big leaguers and KBO stars Ariel Miranda and Odrisamer Despaigne. Despaigne led the KT Wiz to a league title in 2021 and also led Korea in quality starts that same season, while Miranda in 2021 set a KBO record for strikeouts, won the pitcher of the and MVP in the Asian circuit during that same season.
Affiliated with the Cuban Federation:
Pavel Hernández RHP ( Rieleros de Aguascalientes)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Roel Santos OF (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Raico Santos OF(Olmecas de Tabasco)
Javier Mirabal RHP (Olmecas de Tabasco)**
José R. Rodríguez (Olmecas de Tabasco)**
Guillermo Avilés IF-OF (Piratas de Campeche)**
Yuniesky Larduet OF (Piratas de Campeche)
Marlon Vega RHP (Piratas de Campeche)**
Not affiliated with the Cuban Federation:
Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Lázaro Hernández IF-OF (Tigres de Quintana Roo)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Diablos Rojos de México City)
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Saraperos de Saltillo)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Saraperos de Saltillo)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Mariachis de Guadalajara)
Dariel Álvarez IF-OF (Mariachis de Guadalajara)
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Leones de Yucatán)
Lázaro Alonso 1B-OF (Leones de Yucatán)
Onelki García LHP (Leones de Yucatán)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Leones de Yucatán)
Félix Pérez OF-1B (Toros de Tijuana)
Jesús Balaguer RHP (Sultanes de Monterrey )
Albert Lara IF (Unión Laguna)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Bravos de León)
Luis Medina IF (Pericos de Puebla)
Peter O’Brien OF (Pericos de Puebla)*
Josúan Hernández IF-OF (Piratas de Campeche)
*Cuban-American
** completing migration process