Though it is early plenty of Cubans, affiliated and non-affiliated with the Cuban Baseball Federation have already assured themselves a job this winter in the Caribbean Leagues. Expect more from the Largest of the Antilles to sign as the months roll along. The other major circuits such as the Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, Colombian and Panamanian leagues have yet to announce any signings.
In what most consider the toughest league in the Caribbean, the LIDOM (Dominican Winter League), Yadir Drake headlines the Cuban arrivals to island. Drake who is hitting .336 in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol was recently selected to the league’s all-star game. League standouts such as Yunesky Maya (Águilas) and Raúl Valdés (Toros) return to their respective teams. Valdés has arguably been the circuit’s best pitcher the last 10 years winning over 50 games over that span.
Dairon Blanco who was a hero for los Tigres del Licey in the playoffs hitting .500 in the league finals returns to the circuit with Estrellas Orientales. This with the Royals Triple A affiliate (Omaha), the speedster is batting .331 with 37 stolen bases.
Fuentes: El toletero matancero @yadir_drake jugará con las @aguilascibaenas de la @LIDOMRD este invierno. #pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/W80qRFZ4HD
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) June 1, 2023
In México’s Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico Yoelkis Guibert returns to the league, but this time with the Algodoneros de Guasave. The outfielder from Santiago de Cuba was a key player in the WBC hitting .333 for the semifinalists. Guibert was a key figure in the league with Culiacán in 2020 batting .319 in the postseason in route to a LAMP title and a birth in the Caribbean Series.
Félix Pérez who leads the Mexican Summer League in homeruns and is the reigning MVP of the LMB returns to the familiar confines of Jalisco. In seven winters in the aztec league he has gone yard 44 times. Carlos Juan Viera who sports a 3.53 ERA with Tabasco this summer has a 6-10 mark with Los Mochis and Monterrey in the winter. Expect the Caribbean Series in Miami to be very interesting in February.
Los @AlgodonerosGsv registran dentro de su reserva extranjera al jardinero santiaguero Yoelkis Guibert.#pelotacubana #ligasinvernales pic.twitter.com/mUhBHEUJkx
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) June 8, 2023
Cubans who play in the Winter Leagues this season:
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico:
Yuniesky Larduet OF (Los Mochis)*
Pavel Hernández RHP (Navojoa)*
Albert Lara IF-OF (Navojoa)
Carlos J. Viera RHP (Hermosillo)*
Dariel Álvarez OF (Culiacán)
Félix Pérez OF-1B (Jalisco)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Mazatlán)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Guasave)*
LIDOM:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Águilas)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Águilas)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Julio Robaina LHP (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
*Affiliated with FCB