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. Pedro Echemendia has been lights out as Escarra battery mate. “El Sachy” as he is known by the Cuban faithful posted a sterling 2.45 ERA in nine starts with Ponce.
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. Dayán García shined in his first appearance in a league outside of Cuba, the slugger hit .315, went yard six time and knocked in 29 runs during the regular season in the LBPN.
RHP Bryan Garcia discussed his showcase with Cuban Baseball Digest, where 26 MLB teams were present.
Garcia will join the Puerto Rican Winter League (LBPRC) champions Criollos de Caguas in the 2024 Caribbean Series
🎥 (@CBaseballDigest) pic.twitter.com/6ICiihWbmq
— CubanBaseballZone 🇨🇺⚾️🌎 (@CubanBaseballZN) January 24, 2024
Cubans that have seen action 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 SS (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)*
Bryan Lavastida C (Estrellas)*
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Darién Núñez LHP (Toros)**
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP(Toros)*
Diosbel Arias IF (Toros)
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Gigantes)
Ruben Cardenas INF (Gigantes)*
Nelson Álvarez RHP (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)
Joel David De Paula RHP (Jalisco)
Maikel Serrano OF (Jalisco, Obregón)**
Lázaro Blanco RHP (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)
Luis Avilés Jr INF (Ciudad Obregón)
Josuan Hernández Util (Ciudad Obregón)
Armando Álvarez INF (Ciudad Obregón)*
Elían Leyva RHP (Hermosillo)
Javier Mirabal RHP (Mexicali)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Monterrey)**
Marlon Vega RHP (Navojoa)
LBPRC:
Pedro Echemendia RHP (Ponce)
JC Escarra C,IF,OF (Ponce)* (**)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Ponce)**
Yanquiel Fernández OF (Ponce)
Orlando Martínez OF (Santurce)
Albert Almora Jr (Santurce)*
Adrián Del Castillo C (Santurce)*
Bryan García RHP (Santurce)*
Félix Stevens IF (Carolina)
Orlando Rodríguez RHP (Carolina)
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Darién Núñez LHP (Carolina)**
Leam Méndez RHP (Mayagüez)
Pedro León OF (Caguas)
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)
Robert Roilan Portuondo (Magallanes)**
Reynaldo Álvarez RHP (Magallanes)
Yasiel Puig OF (La Guaira)**
Ariel Miranda LHP (La Guaira)**
Miguel Romero RHP (La Guaira)**
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Lara)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Lara)**
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Caracas)**
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Caracas)**
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)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Gigantes de Rivas)**
Yosmany Guerra IF (Gigantes de Rivas)
Eddy Díaz IF (Gigantes de Rivas)
Adrián Moreno IF-OF (Indios de Bóer)
*Cuban-American
** Played with more than one winter league ballclub.