Three Cubans from Guantánamo, Cuba recently left the island in search of a contract with a major league organization. Slugger Pedro Pablo Revilla recently decided not to return from Japan after completing his contract with the Chunichi Dragons, while pitchers Alexander Valiente and Yeudis Reyes recently defected to the Dominican Republic in their own right.
Pedro Pablo Revilla was signed by the Dragons in 2022 as a top power-hitting prospect something he failed to live up to this year in the minors hitting a paltry .188 and striking out 48 times in 128 trips to the plate. In two minor league season in the land of the rising sun he has hit a total of five roundtrippers.
Revilla was the Cuban League’s HR leader in 2021-2022 with 26 HR (.313 AVG, 1.068 OPS). This helped him sign a contract with Chunichi, with the Cuban Baseball Federation as mediator. During his five Serie Nacionales with Guantánamo Revilla deposited 35 balls in the seats and slugged a robust .537.
Revilla debuted with HR in his first NPB game in 2022, but then proceeded to strike out 30 times in his next 64 at-bats before being sent down to the minors. At 24 years old, he has the plenty power and perhaps will attract the attention of several MLB teams, but needs to correct a few holes in his swing if he is to achieve that goal.
戻らないことを決めた
これはもう亡命確定やね https://t.co/VMwVkrA6ex— 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔𝑨#893五ヵ年計画 (@Snowlightright) September 26, 2023
Yeudis Reyes was part of the Cuban team at the Central American Games this July. He is the fifth player to abandon a Cuban delegation this year. Reyes was a member of the Cuban team that participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
In that tournament he worked an inning in which he did not allow hits. He participated in this year’s National Series with his native Guantánamo and posted a 2.78 ERA in 35.2 innings of work (11 ER). He also had a record of 5-4 record with five saves, struck out 31 and was hit .281. Last season in the Liga Élite Reyes was unhittable in 13 games with a 0.53 earned run average and nine saves.
The 28-year-old Reyes has a fastball well above the 90 MPH threshold and array of breaking pitches. There might be some interest in the right-hander from major league organizations, but his path looks more conducive to a Caribbean League or maybe even an Asian minor league club for now and his age being the biggest detractor on why some MLB clubs might not bite on the talented hurler.
Armed with a fastball in mid 90’s, a decent array of breaking pitches and good command the 20-year-old Alexander Valiente was a prime candidate to be signed a development contract with a Nippon League franchise. Various clubs from the land of rising were rumored to be on the tale of Valiente.
The flamethrower from the easternmost province of Cuba has been part of several U-23 national teams, was also on the Cuban preliminary squad for the Classic, participated in the Alba Games recently and was part of the Cuban team (Agricultores) in the Caribbean Series this February in Caracas, Venezuela.
Los tres guantanameros Yeudis Reyes, Pedro Revilla y Alexander Valiente juntos en la República Dominicana en búsqueda de una firma con un equipo profesional. #pelotacubana #MLB pic.twitter.com/vFsygYlE0F
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) October 10, 2023
Precisely, on the Venezuelan stage with our sister page Pelota Cubana’s Miguel Rodríguez had the opportunity to talk with him about his presence on the Cuban preliminary squad for the World Baseball Classic and about the real interest that various Japanese teams had in him: “It is a nice experience to be in the Caribbean Series, being a very young athlete, I am happy because it has been one of the biggest events in which I have participated. I also feel very happy to have generated some interests from some teams in Japan, playing in that league would be very good for my career.”
“Being on the WBC preliminary squad was something very big for my career and now being in the Caribbean Series is the best thing that has happened to me”, reiterated Valiente.
Cuba is now struggling more and more to retain its talent, many young players due to the economic situation on the island have decided to try their luck in other countries. For most players with some semblance of talent earning just 3,500 Cuban pesos (~18 dollars) in the National Series is just not cutting it and on an island that has a floundering economy leaving is the only option.