Sources close to the situation have confirmed to the me that the Tijuana Toros are currently negotiating with the Cuban Baseball Federation to sign outfielder Yoelquis Guibert for this upcoming season in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. Guibert is currently hitting .303 with three homeruns, nine RBIs and four stolen bases in 17 games with the Algodoneros de Guasave of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico.
He’s more than likely the heir apparent to Roel Santos in centerfield for the national squad. Guibert was a key figure in Santiago’s back-to-back titles in Cuba’s Sub 23 league in 2017 & 2018. Guibert is a line-drive hitter with occasional power and plenty of speed on the basepaths. He basically fits the bill of a typical leadoff hitter.
Fuentes: Los @TorosDeTijuana están en negociaciones con la @CubanaBeisbol para los servicios del jardinero Yoelquis Guibert. El cubano podrá firmar con el equipo en el futuro cercano.#pelotacubana #LMB pic.twitter.com/IYfSmhh5K4
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) November 20, 2023
He debuted in 2017 with the Cuban team in the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam and hit an astonishing .423 in that competition. The speedster was part of the first list of 34 prospects in the now-defunct accord between MLB and Cuba in 2019 that was vetoed by US President Donald Trump.
He was also part of the disappointing Cuban Pan-American Games team in 2019 and hit .290 in the preparational friendship series with the US collegiate team. In 2021 Guibert smacked the walkoff hit in the Tomateros de Culiacán’s 7-6 win in game 7 of the Liga Mexicana Pacífico Championship Series. In two seasons with the club he hit .295.
Guibert also saw action in the Frontier League with the Quebec Capitales in 2022, but was released after hitting .225 in 27 games with the Canadian squad. The outfielder redeemed himself in 2023 WBC for Cuba by hitting a robust .333. When the Toros do sign Guibert expect him to be a table setter for the team and a key figure in the offense of the Mexican squad.