Yoelquis Guibert has a bright future ahead of him in the game of baseball, especially with the Cuban National Team. He’s more than likely the heir apparent to Roel Santos in centerfield for the squad. Guibert was a key figure in Santiago’s back-to-back titles in Cuba’s Sub 23 league in 2017 & 2018. Guibert is a line-drive hitter with occasional power and plenty of speed on the basepaths. He basically fits the bill of a typical leadoff hitter.
He debuted in 2017 with the Cuban team in the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam and hit an astonishing .423 in that competition. The speedster was part of the first list of 34 prospects in the now-defunct accord between MLB and Cuba.
He was also part of the disappointing Cuban Pan-American Games team in 2019 and hit .290 in the preparation friendship series with the US collegiate team. In 2021 Guibert smacked the walkoff hit in the Tomateros de Culiacán’s 7-6 win in game 7 of the Liga Mexicana Pacífico Championship Series. In two seasons with the club he hit .295.
Guibert also saw action in the Frontier League with the Quebec Capitales in 2022, but was released after hitting .225 in 27 games with the Canadian squad. The outfielder redeemed himself in 2023 WBC for Cuba by hitting a robust .333. The native of Santiago de Cuba will be playing once again in México this winter with Guasave.
Yoelquis Guibert
SNB 61 🔥
AVG .332, 20 jonrones
1ro Carreras anotadas (72)
1ro Carreras impulsadas (78)
1ro Total de bases recorridas (174)I Serie Élite 🔥
1ro AVG (.357)
1ro OPS (.984)El santiaguero hizo y deshizo madero en ristre para colarse en #elCubaClasico 🇨🇺 pic.twitter.com/lcRLxaeg9o
— Alejandro Rodríguez Cuervo (@AleRodriguez_tv) February 11, 2023
Santiago had a great nucleus on the 2016 Sub 23 team, how do you that translating into success with the Serie Nacional ballclub?
Although we lost Norge Carlos Vera, Ricardo Ramos, Sergio Barthelemy, Patrick Meriño, and Óscar Luis Colás, I think we still have plenty of talent on our ball club. We still have plenty of young talent like to take up the slack for those losses.
How did your training games in México leading up to last year’s Pan-Am games help you get in-game shape?
The rarefied air helped my cardio plenty and I was able to work on every facet of my game. This I felt was the catalyst to my good season last year.
You were on the list submitted to Major League Baseball by the Cuban Federation, how did that make you feel?
I was very motivated but I was also very sad when the deal fell through. Hopefully one day I will be able to play in the best baseball in the world.
Tell me about your experience in the World Baseball Classic.
Well, for me it was the greatest and most beautiful experience that I have had so far in my sports career, I’ve had the opportunity to represent Cuba in other events, but none of the magnitude of a World Classic. It was something very nice to be there, to represent Cuba and also to have played with Major League players, something that happened for the first time for us (FCB). It was a nice experience, not only did I have a great showing, but our team also had a great tournament.