In a marvelous season for players of Cuban lineage, the playoffs will also have a grand representation of players from the island and those of Cuban descent. Over the past 10 years the amount of Cubans and Cuban-Americans playing on the grand stage has augmented gradually. This postseason there will 15 players of Cuban heritage playing for various and hoping to help their squads hoist a World Series trophy when it is all said and done.
The Marlins who will face the Phillies tonight at 8PM in their 3-game Wildcard series has the greatest amount of players of Cuban Heritage with three and they are led by Jorge Soler with his 36 homeruns. Yuli Gurriel has been a key lockeroom figure with the fish and instrumental in their playoff qualification. Cuban-American Nick Fortes will be a key backup and pinch-hitter for the team from the “Magic City”.
The top team in the National League, the Braves will count on Raisel Iglesias and his 33 saves to close out games and are looking to win their second championship in three years. The right-hander from the Isle of Youth has been virtually unhittable since the All-Star break posting a 1.84 ERA and saving 17 games.
The Diamondbacks will face the Brewers and Lourdes Gurriel Jr will be a key figure for Arizona. The outfielder who plays an impeccable defense in left field also drove in 82 runs and made his first All-Star appearance for the desert snakes. Gurriel will be a coveted free agent this offseason.
Los números de Raisel Iglesias después del Juego de las Estrellas.#pelotacubana #FortheA pic.twitter.com/WrpvpO9DRb
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) October 2, 2023
Texas who Tampa today 4-0 will be a series were four Cubans will do battle. Adolis García with his 36 longballs and 107 runs batted in will be the leader of the Rangers offense. Aroldis Chapman who fanned 100 batters this season for the fifth time in his career will play a major role for theArlington squad’s bullpen.
Tampa on the other will count on league batting champion Yandy Díaz to provide an offensive spark in Game 2. The other Cuban member of the Rays needs no introduction when it comes to playoff baseball after his record-setting 2020 performance. Arozarena hits a robust .333 during the postseason.
José Abreu (90 RBIs) and Yordan Álvarez (97RBIs) will the lead the defending champion Houston Astros offense in their quest to repeat as the monarchs of MLB. Abreu hits a gawdy .321 in the postseason, while Álvarez has a penchant for key hits in the postseason for the team from the Space City.
The tandem of Cionel Pérez (11 holds) and Yennier Cano who led MLB with 31 holds make the back part of Baltimore’s bullpen lights out as they await their opponent for the ALDS. Cano was an All-Star this season and Pérez posted a robust 2.35 ERA post All-Star break.
Nick Castellanos swatted 37 doubles this season and knocked in 100 runs for the third time in his career,the native of Hialeah, Fla also went downtown 29 times on the campaign giving Philadelphia another dangerous hitter in a lineup loaded with them. Castellanos came up big last season in the team from the City of Brotherly Love’s victory over Atlanta in the ALDS hitting .313 and driving in five runs.
Last but not least is J.D. Martínez, the Cuban-American slugger had somewhat of a comeback season. Martínez who was mostly hurt last year made his third straight All-Star game and also hit 30 homeruns and drove in 100 runs for the fifth time in his career. Martínez and his .303 average during the postseason makes him a dangerous playoff hitter. His dearth of playoff experience that includes a 2018 title with Boston could pay dividends for the Dodgers.
El villaclareño @YandyDiaz72 es el campeón de bateo de la Liga Americana en el 2023.#pelotacubana #AL #championbate pic.twitter.com/Mj8xzLO9Ef
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) October 1, 2023
Cubans in the postseason:
Jorge Soler (MIA) .250,36HR,75RBI
Yuli Gurriel (MIA) .247,4HR,28RBI
Nick Fortes (MIA) .204,6HR,26RBI*
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI) .261,24HR, 82RBI
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) 5-4,2.75ERA,33SV
Yennier Cano (BAL) 1-4,2.00ERA, 31HLD,8SV
Cionel Pérez (BAL) 4-2,3.54ERA, 11HLD,3SV
José Abreu (HOU) .237,18HR,90RBI
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) .293,31HR, 97RBI
J.D. Martínez (LAD) .271,33HR, 103RBI*
Nick Castellanos (PHI) .272,29HR, 106RBI*
Yandy Díaz (TAM) .330,22HR,78CI
Randy Arozarena (TAM) .254,23HR, 83RBI
Aroldis Chapman (TEX) 6-5, 3.09ERA, 14HLD,6SV
Adolis García (TEX) .245,39HR,107RBI
*Cuban-American