It has been a busy 24 hours for Cuban players in the Caribbean Winter Leagues. As the season nears teams in these circuits are trying to reinforce their squads with talented players from the largest of the Antilles in order to make their way to the Serie del Caribe in Miami.
The signing of the day was that of the Cardinals prized prospect César Prieto by the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Winter League. The talented native of Cienfuegos, Cuba is hitting a robust .339 with nine longballs and 62 RBIs in 109 games in AAA this year with Norfolk and Memphis.
The Gigantes del Cibao confirmed the signing of defending LIDOM batting champion Henry Urrutia. The talented lefty spent the summer in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Saraperos de Saltillo batting .291 with 18 homers and 60 runs batted in. Urrutia will be a key part of Gigantes attack this season.
Nuestras fuentes en @pelotacubanausa nos confirman que César Prieto llegó a un acuerdo con las @aguilascibaenas de la @LIDOMRD. #pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/IOj9PDrW9E
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) September 6, 2023
In Venezuela right-hander Edgar Escobar will replace his countrymen Ronald Bolaños in the Caribes de Anzoategui’s rotation. Escobar looked very good last season with the Águilas Cibaeñas of the LIDOM posting a 1-0 record and 2.84 ERA in 11 games with the Dominican ball club. After being released by the St. Louis Cardinals needs a good outing to secure a contract with a professional ballclub next summer.
Last but not least Rubi Silva re-signed with the Tigres de Chinandega of the Nicaraguan Winter League. Silva was a key piece of the felines lineup last year hitting .331 on the season and was a key pickup by the for the league champion Indios de Bóer during their playoff run. Silva has plenty of Winter League experience and is a talented veteran that could help a ballclub in any facet of the game.
El tunero @HenryUrrutia51 regresará con los @Gigantes_Cibao esta temporada en la @LIDOMRD . #pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/5BAcvcPx19
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) September 5, 2023
Cuban signings in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
César Prieto IF (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Estrellas)
Julio Robaina LHP (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Gigantes)
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico:
Yuniesky Larduet OF (Los Mochis)
Yasmany Tomás 1B-DH (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)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Mazatlán)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Guasave)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Guasave)
JC Escarra C,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:
Edgar Escobar RHP (Caribes)
LBPN:
Lorenzo Quintana C (Tigres de Chinandega)
Rubi Silva IF-OF (Tigres de Chinandega)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Gigantes de Rivas)
*Cuban-American
** Will play with Guasave until November, after November will join Ponce.