The Winter Leagues the signings of Yasiel Puig, Dairon Blanco with the Estrellas Orientales and the return of Yunesky Maya to the Águilas Cibaeñas have made headway in the Dominican Winter League. While in Mexico Peter O’Brien and WBC hero for Cuba Miguel Romero’s signings have the Culiacán faithful inspired in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. In Puerto Rico JC Escarra and Pedro Echemendia return to Ponce to be integral parts of the Leones.
Other players who aren’t as sexy as the acquisitions above, but look to make solid contributions to their Caribbean squads. Ronald Bolaños asked for his unconditional release from the Marlins for undisclosed personal reasons. This season with Jacksonville (AAA) in 15 starts, he sports a 3-10 record, 8.63 earned run average and has fanned 48 in 65 ⅔ innings pitched. Bolaños also has a WHIP of 2.41 and SO9 of 6.6.
Bolaños had signed with the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Winter League, but that fell through and he ended up coming to an agreement with the Caribes de Anzoategui of thw Venezuelan League. Last winter Bolaños pitched in the LIDOM with the Toros del Este and in 10 starts posted a 3-4 mark to go along with a decent 3.53 ERA.
El derecho mayabequense Ronald Bolaños no lanzará en la @LIDOMRD con @aguilascibaenas, el serpentinero envés jugará con @caribesanzotegu de la @LVBP_Oficial . Bolaños es representado por Carlos Pérez.#pelotacubana #LBVP pic.twitter.com/8HplSIDdwf
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) August 19, 2023
Pedro Echemendia who was a key piece to the Ponce Leones’ pitching staff posting a 2-1 record and 1.16 ERA in the six starts with the Puerto Rican ball club returns this season. In six winter league seasons the the right-hander boast a solid 3.60 earned run average. This summer in the Liga Mayor de Venezuela the right-hander had a 1-3 with a 8.41 and 11 strikeouts in 20 ⅓ innings pitched in the circuit.
Lázaro Estrada will make his Winter League debut in Puerto Rico’s Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente with the Cangrejeros de San. The hurler from Havana has had a very good season at Class A Dunedin, a minor league affiliate of the Toronto Bluejays. In 26 games with the club, including seven start the pitcher has 1-2 mark, 2.69 ERA and has fanned 88 batters. The strikeout artist is looking to get some work in this winter and hopefully be prepared for next year’s Spring Training with the Canadians.
Fuentes: El derecho Lázaro Estrada lanzará con los @SanturceLBPRC esta temporada. #pelotacubana #LBPRC pic.twitter.com/cx1lI8wgQf
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) August 21, 2023
LIDOM:
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Estrellas)
Julio Robaina LHP (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)
Roel Santos OF (Hermosillo)
Dariel Álvarez OF (Culiacán)
Miguel Romero RHP (Culiacán)
Peter O’Brien OF-1B (Culiacán) **
Félix Pérez OF-1B (Jalisco)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Mazatlán)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Guasave)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Guasave)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Monterrey)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP ( Ciudad Obregón)
LBPRC:
Pedro Echemendia RHP (Ponce)
JC Escarra C,IF,OF (Ponce)**
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
LVBP:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Caribes)