Albert Almora has signed with the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Puerto Rican Winter League to showcase his talents in order to earn himself a contract with a MLB organization or an Asian League squad. The outfielder, who was once a top prospect with the Cubs last saw action with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022 hitting .223 with five homeruns and 29 RBIs in 64 games primarily as a reserve.
Another Cuban-American, catcher Adrian Del Castillo will also offer his services to Santurce. The backstop spent this season in the NL Champion Arizona Diamondbacks farm system hitting .264 with 14 longballs and 64 runs batted in on the season. Castillo will offer an experienced catcher for the borinquen squad.
Leam Méndez, who is a prospect in the Toronto Bluejays organization will pitch for the Indios de Mayagüez,the defending league champion. The hurler from Ciego de Ávila, Cuba was a very valuable reliever in the minors last season for bluebirds posting a 2-1 record, 2.36 ERA, 33 K’s and a 1.17 WHIP in 34 ⅓ innings between RK-A+ ball.
El ex-grandes ligas cubanoamericano @albertalmora jugará con los @SanturceLBPRC de la @LBPRC este invierno. #pelotacubana #LBPRC pic.twitter.com/mHQjYzFiD4
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) November 4, 2023
Cubans in the Winter Leagues this season:
LIDOM:
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)*
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Darién Núñez LHP (Toros)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Toros)
Oscar Luis Colás IF-OF (Toros)
Diosbel Arias IF (Toros)
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Gigantes)
Yosver Zulueta RHP (Leones)
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico:
Yasmany Tomás 1B-DH (Los Mochis)
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Los Mochis)
Miguel Romero RHP (Culiacán)
Peter O’Brien OF-1B (Culiacán) *
Félix Pérez OF-1B (Jalisco)
Yoennis Yera LHP (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)
José Miguel Fernández 1B-DH (Ciudad Obregón)
Elían Leyva RHP (Hermosillo)
LBPRC:
Pedro Echemendia RHP (Ponce)
JC Escarra C,IF,OF (Ponce)*(**)
Yanquiel Fernández OF (Ponce)
Orlando Martínez OF (Santurce)
Albert Almora OF (Santurce)*
Adrian Del Castillo C (Santurce)*
Félix Stevens IF (Carolina)
Orlando Rodríguez RHP (Carolina)
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Leam Méndez RHP (Mayagüez)
LVBP:
Edgar Escobar RHP (Caribes)
Yoel Yanqui IF (Cardenales)
Jesús Balaguer RHP (Bravos)
Sandy Gastón RHP (Bravos)
Pablo Guillen RHP (Magallanes)
Raynel Delgado IF (Magallanes)
LBPN:
Lorenzo Quintana C (Tigres de Chinandega)
Rubi Silva IF-OF (Tigres de Chinandega)
Dayán García IF (Tigres de Chinandega)
José Ramón Rodríguez (Tigres de Chinandega)
Alay Lago INF (Tren del Norte)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Leones de León)
Rogelio Quesada RHP (Leones de León)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Gigantes de Rivas)
Yosmany Guerra IF (Gigantes de Rivas)
*Cuban-American
** Will play with Guasave until November, after November will join Ponce.