Plenty of Cubans have defected and signed with major league ballclubs and even some have starred on the grand stage, but only a few have returned to play in the Serie Nacional. The highly anticipated return of Yoenis Céspedes to the Alazanes de Granma has set the ante for future returns to the Cuban tournament.
Céspedes last played in the Dominican Winter League in 2022 with the Águilas Cibaeñas and hit .188 with four homeruns and 11 RBIs in 18 games with the historic ballclub. In his two seasons in the LIDOM the ex-big leaguer has hit under the Mendoza line.
During his 8-year career in MLB with Detroit, Oakland, Boston and the Mets he hit .273 with 165 longballs, 528 runs batted in, 43 steals and slashed .327/.497/.824. Over that time he was a two-time All-Star selection, won a gold glove (2015) and a silver slugger (2016). Céspedes also has the distinction on being the first DH to hit a homerun in an official National League Game when he connected for a longball against the Braves on Opening Day in 2020.
The slugger has also seen plenty of international action with Cuba most notably in the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2023. Céspedes playing in the Serie Nacional are the final steps in a long and distinguished career that has come to an end.
☑️Según la información brindada por el periodista granmense Osviel Castro Medel, el ex-MLB Yoenis Céspedes, está en la Preselección de Granma de cara a la SN 63 del Béisbol Cubano.
💫 Céspedes estuvo con Cuba en el V Clásico Mundial. Su última Serie en Cuba fue la 50 (2010-11). pic.twitter.com/4syz3XgqwF
— Miguel Rodríguez Hernández (@MiguelRH98) December 28, 2023
Rusney Castillo was the last player to return to the Serie Nacional this season with Matanzas. The ex-big leaguer returned to the country’s circuit for the first time since 2013 with his natal Tigres de Ciego de Ávila. The once five-tool Castillo decided to leave Cuba in 2013 in search of a major league contract and made news when he received the biggest contract given to a Cuban defector when he signed a 7-year 72 million dollar deal with the Boston Red Sox.
Castillo played three years in majors with BoSox hitting .262 with seven homeruns and 35 RBIs in 99 games with the American League squad. After his time with the BoSox he went on to sign a minor league deal with Washington Nationals but was released before actually suiting up with the team from the nation’s capital. Upon his release he was then inked by the Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon League where he hit a paltry .225 in 33 games with the big squad.
Castillo then went on to see action with Long Island Ducks and Staten Island Ferryhawks in 2022. Last season the 36-year-old played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Mariachis de Guadalajara batting a solid .279 in 13 games. The slugger looks to resurrect a career that seems to be nearing its end by displaying his talents in the antillean circuit.
During his time in the Serie Nacional he slashed .315/.380/.501/.881, went downtown 42, knocked in 192 runs and stole 68 bases. Castillo also saw action with the national squad in the 2011 Baseball World Cup and the Pan American Games that same year.
El ex-Grandes Ligas, Rusney Castillo, está muy cerca de volver al béisbol de Cuba.
Aunque aún se encuentra en conversaciones varias fuentes me aseguraron que participará en la próxima Serie Élite y la Serie Nacional.
Detalles en: https://t.co/MdJNwQ7qyo
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) September 20, 2023
Yasmany Tomás was another high-profile returnee last season in the playoffs with Havana’s Industriales. During the postseason he hit a middling .268 and drove in eight runs in 14 games.”El Tanque” was the MVP this winter in the Mexican Winter League in 2022 after hitting .328 with 10 homeruns, 57 RBIs and slashing .383/.510/.893.
The ex-big leaguer returned to Cuba last summer after not being able to secure a contract in either México or Asia. During his five Series Nacionales with the Industriales he hit .290 with 39 homeruns and 151 RBIs. The first baseman announced his interest in playing with Cuba in this year’s World Baseball Classic, but was snubbed by the island for the event.
Tomás played in the major leagues for four years with the Arizona Diamondbacks hitting .266 with 48 with 163 runs batted in, this includes a career year in 2016 when he hit 31 homeruns, swatted 30 doubles and knocked in 83 runs. This winter the infielder returned to Los Mochis of the Liga ARCO and has looked good with the lumber. In 59 games has gone yard 10 times, laced nine doubles and driven in 35 runs.
Cuba eliminó la repatriación como requisito para que atletas cubanos residentes en el exterior intervengan en eventos organizados en la isla, y con ello Yasmani Tomás será activado con los Industriales de La Habana en los playoffs de la edición 62 Serie Nacional de Beisbol. pic.twitter.com/U45b06Zkzh
— Cuarto Bat ® (@cuartobatmx) July 7, 2023
Players who have returned to the Serie Nacional:
Roberto Baldoquín SS (LAA,STL)
Yadil Mujica SS (NYY)
Yadir Drake OF (LAD)
Rubi Silva OF (CHC)
Dariel Álvarez OF (BAL)
Rusney Castillo OF (BOS,WAS)
Jorge Hernández RHP (BOS)
Yasmany Tomás 3B-1B-OF (ARI,WAS)
Erisbel Arruebarruena SS (LAD)
Roberto Hernández RHP (CLE)
Jonathan Cruz RHP (MIL)
Leslie Anderson IF-OF (TAM)
Yoilan Cerce IF (BOS)
Yuniesky Betancourt IF (SEA,KC,MIL)
Yoenis Céspedes OF (OAK,BOS, DET,NYM)
*Will return to the Serie Nacional in 2024.