Their have been a record number of Cuban and Cuban Americans who have played in the winter leagues this season. Approximately 71 players have seen action this season, an all-time record for Cubans. Of the four major winter circuits and the Nicaraguan League plenty of players from the Largest of the Antilles have stood out.
The bat of Dairon Blanco and his speed have definitely been showcased with the Estrellas Orientales in the LIDOM, the Caribbean’s toughest league. During the regular season the speedy outfielder hit .286 and stole 18 bases. The native of Camagüey, Cuba also led the Round Robin with a .345 and in total on the season swiped 25 bases.
His teammate and countrymen Jorge Martínez was a key figure in team’s making the second straight finals berth in the Dominican Republic. The right-hander was a jack-of-all-trades filling in as a spot starter and reliever. The hurler posted a sparkling 2.45 ERA during the regular season. Regardless of who wins in the DR expect Martínez to be part of a Caribbean Series team in Miami.
Outfielder Dairon Blanco of the @EOBASEBALLCLUB finishes as the batting leader in the @LIDOMRD Round Robin. #CubanBaseballDigest #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/g4nYksIeOZ
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 19, 2024
In México Elían Leyva was the ace of league champion Hermosillo during the regular season winning in nine starts for the orange squad. In 44⅔ innings pitched the crafty righty fanned 22 and figures to be a key component of the Naranjeros pitching staff in the Serie del Caribe. Yasmany Tomás swatted 10 homeruns this season, 20 in the last two seasons to be exact. The slugger from Havana also hit .270 on the winter.
In Venezuela Yasiel Puig has been a feared hitter since coming over from the LIDOM. During the regular phase of the LVBP tournament “The Wild Horse” hit 10 bombs and knocked in 23 runs en route to leading the Tiburones to a Venezuelan Winter League finals appearance. In total Puig has hit 16 longballs this winter.
In Puerto Rico JC Escarra stole the show behind the plate. The Cuban-American backstop was not only an All-Star, but also garnered All-League honors. Escarra was chosen to reinforce league champion Caguas and will also be invited to Spring Training with the Yankees after signing a minor league contract with the team from Gotham.
In Nicaragua Rubi Silva was an all-around player. The utilityman hit a solid .331, while also going yard twice, driving 25, slashing .361/.452/.813 and even stealing two bases. The native of Güines, Cuba will return to the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the expansion Conspiradores de Querétaro.
Cuban-American catcher @jcescarra will reinforce the @CriollosCaguas in the @sdcmiami2024.#CubanBaseballDigest #SeriedelCaribe pic.twitter.com/nYXWWDGoWB
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 23, 2024
My All-Winter League team (regular season numbers):
1B- Yasmany Tomás (.270,10HR,35RBI)
2B- Yosmany Guerra (.346,HR,28RBI)
3B- Dayán García (.315,6HR,29RBI)
SS- Coco Montes*(.320,2HR,11RBI)
C- JC Escarra*( .242,2HR,21RBI)
OF- Yadiel Hernández (.302,20RBI)
OF- Dairon Blanco (.286,13RBI,18SB)
OF- Yasiel Puig (.351,11HR,29RBI)
DH- Yadir Drake (.300,2HR,19RBI)
RHP- Elían Leyva (7-1,3.43,22K)
LHP- Ariel Miranda (3-2,4.37,45K)
RP- Jorge Martínez (2-0,2.45 ERA,18K)
Utility- Rubi Silva (.331,2HR,25RBI)
Honorable Mentions: Henry Urrutia, Odrisamer Despaigne, Lorenzo Quintana, Maikel Serrano, Pedro Echemendia, Félix Pérez,Alay Lago, Yoanner Negrín
*Cuban-American