In total 10 players of Cuban heritage will play in the Serie del Caribe set to start February 1st at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. Although an official Cuban team was not invited to the tournament, the Largest of the Antilles will have a grand representation in the stadium situated in the aptly named “Little Havana” section of the city.
JC Escarra will be a player of interest during the tournament with Caguas. The Cuban-American catcher has not been to shabby this winter either with the lumber placing sixth in the LBPRC in hits (35), second in doubles (9), and fifth in runs batted in (15). In a position where hitting is not at a premium Escarra’s hitting is definitely a plus. Expect the Yankees’ free agent signee to shine during the tournament.
Jorge Martínez was a key figure in the Estrellas Orientales making their 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. The versatile Martínez will fill a key for for the Tigres del Licey in this Caribbean Series.
Cuban right-hander @despa40 will be reinforcing the @ClubNaranjeros in the upcoming @sdcmiami2024 that will take place from February 1st to the 9th. #LigaArco #CubanBaseballDigest pic.twitter.com/VA5OGUYEDS
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 28, 2024
For Venezuela’s Tiburones de La Guaira 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 their first Winter League title in over three decades . In total Puig has hit 16 longballs this winter.
For México’ s Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Odrisamer Despaigne could be the ace and Game 1 opening pitcher for the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico champions. During the regular season the workhouse of the Venados de Mazatlán posted a 5-2 record and a 2.98 ERA, but during the postseason he was even more spectacular going 2-1 with a 1.88 earned run average. Expect Despaigne to play a key role on a loaded Hermosillo team.
Left-hander Raúl Valdés and right-hander Jorge Martínez will reinforce the pitching corps of @TigresdelLicey in the @sdcmiami2024 .#CubanBaseballDigest #SerieDelCaribe2024 pic.twitter.com/9S3xSuEDq9
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 29, 2024
Cubans per roster:
Criollos de Caguas (PR):
JC Escarra C*
Bryan García RHP*
Naranjeros de Hermosillo (MEX):
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP
Gigantes de Rivas (NIC):
Yoanner Negrín RHP
Tiburones de La Guaira (VEN):
Miguel Romero RHP
Ariel Miranda LHP
Yasiel Puig OF
Tigres del Licey (RD)
Yadiel Hernández OF
Raúl Valdés LHP
Jorge Martínez RHP
*Cubanoamericano