Roel Santos joined the Estrellas Orientales recently after a lengthy wait for his visa to enter the Dominican Republic, in his four games with the team he’s hitting .200 with three stolen base and three runs scored. Santos is coming off a Pan-American Games with the Cuban team in which he hit nearly .500 and should be one of the most dynamic leadoff hitters in the circuit.
The outfielder has plenty of winter league and international experience with Cuban National Team. Last winter he played with Naranjeros de Hermosillo hitting .303 with two longballs, 18 runs batted in, 11 stolen bases and 33 runs scored. In three Series del Caribe he hits .321 with the Cuban representative in each one of those tournaments combined.
This summer Santos played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Olmecas de Tabasco this summer and as their leadoff hitter he hit a solid .310 with four homers and 30 runs batted in during his 68 games with the ballclub. The speedster adds another talented Cuban outfielder to a roster that already boasts Dairon Blanco and José Barrero on it.
Roel Santos nos hablo sobre su primer imparable en la @LIDOMRD y la plenitud de talento cubano jugando en el Caribe.#pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/P4UmQtu8g6
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) November 23, 2023
Roel, tell us about the talent level in this League (LIDOM).
Greetings to Pelota Cubana and all its followers. It is my first experience in this Dominican League, it really has a tremendous level, it also a top level Caribbean League.
Compare the level of the ARCO League pitchers with those of the LIDOM.
The Dominican League is very strong and really very competitive, here in the DR they pitch with more velocity, in México the ball moves a little more, both have their great levels of talent, but with different characteristics.
So far this season several times the Estrellas Orientales have had various games with a Cuban outfield, what does that say about Cuban talent currently in the Caribbean?
It is no secret to anyone about the level of talent that exists here in the Dominican Republic and the talent that there is also in Cuba. Cuba really is a machine for making players, and the difference is results are being seen in both in the Major Leagues and in the Winter Leagues. It is always good that Cubans have their place in these leagues, it opens doors for other talents that come behind them. It is always good to leave positive results, as a Cuban, to set an example for the next generation.
You’ve been playing baseball non-stop for two consecutive years, do you feel a little exhausted? How did that affect performance at the Pan American Games?
It is true that I have been playing non-stop for some time, playing at different levels, you have to be mentally and physically well prepared. Sometimes it is a bit exhausting, there have been intervals for international events such as the Pan American Games, the Caribbean Cup, it is a different preparation for each tournament. Now here in the Dominican Republic we are continuing to prepare well, I always have to be 100% ready, there is a lot of competitiveness here and the most important thing is to be healthy.
Would you be available for the Estrellas to play in the Caribbean Series?
Yes, with God’s will and if we win a title here I would like to be in the Caribbean Series with the team.