Outfielder Yasiel Puig completed his contractual obligation with the Estrellas Orientales and will now take his talents to the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. Puig who will now be part of the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, ” wants to help them win a title,” as per the statement the slugger released yesterday through his representation, Leona Sports.
After playing the first month of the winter league season in the Dominican Republic, Puig hit .250 with a homer and six runs batted in for the club. The talented Cuban joins a squad who is an institution in México having won 16 league titles and will join his countrymen Elían Leyva and the team’s roster with one goal in hand, reach the Caribbean Series.
El jardinero @YasielPuig complio su contrato con la @EOBASEBALLCLUB y ahora reforzará a los @ClubNaranjeros en la @Liga_Arco .#pelotacubana #LigaARCO #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/t0Darbaeur
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) November 17, 2023
Puig last saw the action during the 2022 season in the Korean Baseball Organization with the Kiwoom Heroes. In 126 games with the team he hit .277 with 21 longballs, 73 runs batted in and slashed .368/.474/.841. The Cuban last played in the Dominican circuit in 2021 with the Toros del Este batting .231 in five games. When he is at the top of his game Puig is a bonified five tool player.
During his seven seasons in the big leagues with Cincinnati, Cleveland and the Dodgers the slugger hit .277 with 132 roundtrippers, 415 RBIs, 79 stolen bases and slashed.348/.474/ .823. Puig also exhibited great defensive prowess and was known for having one of the best arms in the game.
At the age of 32 Puig is in his prime and his incursion in the league is more than likely a place to showcase the native of Cienfuegos, Cuba’s talents for MLB, Mexican or Asian League clubs for the 2024 season. With a great performance in the toughest Caribbean league could open a lot of doors for the player in the summer.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues this season:
LIDOM:
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
César Prieto IF (Águilas)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Águilas)
Coco Montes IF (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)
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)
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)
Yasiel Puig OF (Hermosillo)
Marlon Vega RHP (Navojoa)
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)*
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)
Adrián Moreno OF (Indios del Bóer)
*Cuban-American
** Will play with Guasave until November, after November will join Ponce.