Last Thursday, November 2, in a press conference was held to celebrate the second season of the Cuban Liga Elite Baseball League, the presence of the Cuban U-23 team in the Nicaragua Pre-World Cup, among other topics were discussed as well. Once this Conference was concluded, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, national commissioner and president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, discussed the signing of four Cubans to contracts with the Chunichi Dragons at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum.
Omar Linares and pitcher Frank Abel Álvarez Díaz, of the Chunichi Dragons, signed the extension of their respective contracts. The ex-national team star from Pinar del Río will continue as hitting coach in the Japanese organization and pitcher Frank Abel Álvarez extended his contract for one more year. There is a grand possibility that he will receive the opportunity to debut with the big club in 2024.
As our sister page Pelota Cubana reported some time ago, the agreements with the Dragons for the youngsters Christian Leandro Rodríguez García and Carlos Antonio Monier Torres were also made official. Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez still have current contracts with Soft Bank and Chunichi respectively.
In 2023, nine players tied to the Cuban Federation saw action in Japan and Omar Linares also served as coach (Chunichi). The athletes were Liván Moinelo and Alfredo Despaigne with the Soft Bank Hawks; Raidel Martínez, Pedro Pablo Revilla, Guillermo García and Frank Abel Álvarez with the Chunichi Dragons; Ariel Martínez with Nippon Ham and Yasel Pérez with Tokushima Indigo Socks, from the Shikoku Island League Plus.
Carlos Monier and Christian Rodríguez were part of the Cuba U-23 that finished tenth at the World Cup in the category in 2022. Monier hit .235, with a double, triple and an RBI, while Rodríguez was selected as the All-Star shortstop of the tournament. He hit .368, with a double and two RBIs during the competition. On defense he made no errors in 31 attempts, made 17 assists and recorded four double plays. Rodríguez (21 years old) and Monier (22 years old) will have a valuable opportunity to develop as players on the Dragons’ farm.
Monier is a slugger with plenty of raw power, while Rodríguez is more defensive and makes good contact at the plate. Their performances in the minors will determine their future in professional baseball. Their first year with the squad from Nagoya will be a feel out year where they develop their skills and possibly set themselves up for a future NPB call-up in year two.