Yadiel Hernández will be returning to the Dominican Winter League this season after signing with the Águilas Cibaeñas. The outfielder from Matanzas, Cuba last played in the circuit with the Estrellas Orientales in 2018-19 hitting .214 in 13 games with the ballclub from San Pedro de Macoris. The colleague Francys Romero reported the signing late yesterday.
The Cuban was released by the Washington Nationals earlier this season. At the time of his release in Triple A he was hitting an anemic .205. In 1,368 at-bats on the farm with the team from the nation’s capital he connected on a total of 407 hits with 65 doubles, 68 home runs, three triples and knocked in a total 233 runs. He also scored a total of 209 runs, struck out 305 occasions and walked 181 times. “El Jabao” as he is known by the Cuban faithful slashed .298/ .379/.499/.878 during his time in the minors.
During his three seasons in the majors with the Nationals , he played in a total of 218 games where he hit .266 including 27 doubles, 19 homers and a triple. Hernández also drove in 79 runs, scored 66 times, drew 42 walks and slashed .315/ .412/.727. After his release he signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League and in 62 games this season he’s hitting .283 with six longballs and 39 RBIs.
Hernández will showcase his skills in the Caribbean nation this winter for any interested teams worldwide. If he isn’t picked up by another MLB club, Asia might come beckoning for his services or at worst he could end up playing in México again next summer. Whatever the case maybe the talented Hernández will be unemployed next season.
Fuentes: El OF cubano Yadiel Hernández (35) firmó un acuerdo con las Águilas Cibaeñas para la venidera temporada invernal.
Yadiel jugó 3 temporadas (2020, 2021, 2022)en MLB con Washington Nationals y ahora se encuentra en México con los Sultanes de Monterrey. pic.twitter.com/Xn2kvkkbU2
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) August 4, 2023
Cubans who play in the Winter Leagues this season:
LIDOM:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Águilas)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Águilas)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Julio Robaina LHP (Águilas)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
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)*
JC Escarra IF-OF (Guasave)**
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Monterrey)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP ( Ciudad Obregón)
Peter O’Brien (Culiacán) **
LBPRC:
Pedro Echemendia RHP (Ponce)
*Affiliated with FCB
** Cuban-American