Plenty of Cubans have seen and will see action this season in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (Mexican League), but not everyone who starts the season in LMB finishes it there. Many people underestimate the league’s talent level and the patience of the league’s teams.
José Miguel Fernández, Jesús Balaguer and Lázaro Hernández are three player with high expectations, but fell victim to this fate. In a league where nothing is guaranteed one must not take their opportunities for granted.
Fernández came to Saltillo with lofty expectations after hitting .328 and banging out 723 hits in four seasons with the Doosan Bears of the KBO. In his first game with the Saraperos he hit two longballs, but after that struggled to a .219 before he was released by the club a few weeks ago.
Fuentes: Los @ClubSaraperos de la @LigaMexBeis le han dado release al matancero José Miguel Fernández. #pelotacubana #LMB pic.twitter.com/gxoU7yoPEP
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) May 2, 2023
In the case of Balaguer, the ex-Houston Astros prospect could never get going. The righty had the pedigree of a closer leading the Atlantic League last season with 25 saves, but in Monterrey he was hit plentiful, posting a 36.00 earned run average and losing two games during his time with the Sultanes.
Lázaro Hernández came with the loftiest expectations, especially after hitting .306 and swatting 14 homeruns in 41 games with Quintana Roo last season. The season with the Tigres he struggled out of the gate hitting a miniscule .200 with no longballs in 16 games before being let go by the felines.
En el cuarto día de Pretemporada de Sultanes de Monterrey, la novedad de hoy fue el RHP cubano Jesús Balaguer, quien reportó a los entrenamientos. pic.twitter.com/KdTovD4k3X
— José Alfredo Otero (@jaoterom) March 9, 2023
Cubans who have seen action this season in México:
Olmecas de Tabasco:
Yoennis Yera LHP
Carlos Juan Viera RHP
Maikel Serrano IF-OF
Roel Santos OF
Raico Santos OF
Pericos de Puebla:
Luis Medina IF
Peter O’Brien OF
Piratas de Campeche:
Yuniesky Larduet OF
Josúan Hernández IF-OF
Saraperos de Saltillo:
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH
José Miguel Fernández 1B-DH
Ariel Miranda LHP
Mariachis de Guadalajara:
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP
Dariel Álvarez
Leones de Yucatán:
Yadir Drake IF-OF
Lázaro Alonso 1B-OF
Onelki García LHP
Yoanner Negrín RHP
Toros de Tijuana :
Félix Pérez OF-1B
Sultanes de Monterrey :
Jesús Balaguer RHP
Bravos de León:
Lázaro Blanco RHP
Diablos Rojos de México City :
Yunesky Maya RHP
Tigres de Quintana Roo :
Lázaro Hernández IF-OF