The Águilas Cibaeñas via their Twitter page announced Cuban lefty Ariel Miranda as their Opening Day starter for this Thursday’s clash with the Gigantes del Cibao. The hurler will also be making his debut in the Dominican circuit.
This summer Miranda pitched with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol posting a 4-1 record and 4.56 ERA, while also finishing third in the league with 94 strikeouts. The hurler was also pitcher of the year in the KBO and MVP of the KBO with the Doosan Bears when he set the league record for strikeouts with 225.
Miranda has also seen action in Asia with the SoftBank Hawks and CTBC Brothers squad in Taiwan. The crafty lefty was a key part of the Hawks championship in 2018 and 2019. Over the two seasons with the NPB squad he posted a record of 13-6 and a 3.37 earned run average.
El zurdo mayabequense Ariel Miranda será el abridor en Opening day de la @LIDOMRD para las @aguilascibaenas ante los @Gigantes_Cibao .#pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/VLPHdUpfrA
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) October 17, 2023
Cubans scheduled to play in the LIDOM this season:
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
César Prieto IF (Águilas)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Águilas)
Andrew Suárez LHP (Águilas)*
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Estrellas)
Roel Santos OF (Estrellas)
José Barrero IF-OF (Estrellas)
Julio Robaina LHP (Estrellas)
Río Gómez LHP (Estrellas)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Darién Núñez LHP (Toros)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Toros)
Oscar Luis Colás IF-OF (Toros)
Diosbel Arias (Toros)
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Gigantes)
Yosver Zulueta RHP (Escogido)
*Cuban-American