Sources confirmed to me yesterday that two more Cuban pitchers will see action in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol this season. Right-handers Ronald Bolaños (México City) and Orlando Rodríguez (Oaxaca) have signed contracts to play in the circuit.
Bolaños is coming off a great year in the Liga Arco Mexicana del Pacífico with Cañeros de los Mochis, in a season where the team qualified for the playoffs again. The Santa Cruz del Norte, Cuba native was 2-3 in eight appearances, all as a starter. In 36.1 innings of work he had a magnificent 1.49 ERA in addition to striking out 25 and walking 20. Bolaños was also part of last year’s Cuban team in the WBC.
Right-hander Ronald Bolaños will pitch for the @DiablosRojosMX of the @LigaMexBeis. The pitcher is represented by Gladys Alonso of A&F Sports. #CubanBaseballDigest #LigaMexBeis pic.twitter.com/p6joWuEilc
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 31, 2024
In the case of Orlando Rodríguez, the hurler was also unhittable in the LBPRC regular season. The ex-Reds and Twins farmhand posted a 1.84 ERA in 15 appearances, six starts during the regular with the Gigantes de Carolina. Rodriguez also fanned 25 in 29.1 innings of work. The righty’s versatility will give the Guerreros a weapon that can be used in many ways on their pitching staff during the season.
With 20 foreign players allowed per roster, expect a lot of Cubans affiliated or non-affiliated with the Cuban Federation to see action in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol this coming season. One should also expect a record number of Cubans to play and/or debut in the Aztec circuit this season.
Right-hander @O_Rodriguez_21 signs with @GuerrerosOax for the upcoming season of @LigaMexBeis.
#CubanBaseballDigest #LigaMexBeis pic.twitter.com/d4DG0iOADH
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 30, 2024
Cubans who have signed to play in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (México City)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
Ariel Miranda RHP (Campeche)
Eddy Díaz IF (León)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (León)
Luis Avilés Jr IF-OF (Veracruz)
Rubi Silva IF-OF (Querétaro)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Querétaro)**
Jorge Martínez RHP (Querétaro)
Miguel Romero RHP (Querétaro)
Yosmany Guerra IF (Querétaro)
Leonys Martín OF (Querétaro)
Rusney Castillo OF (Querétaro)
Roberto Baldoquín IF (Querétaro)
Elían Leyva RHP (Yucatán)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Yucatán)
Onelki García LHP (Yucatán)
Lázaro Alonso (Yucatán)
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Yucatán)
Josh Fuentes IF (Yucatán)*
Darién Núñez LHP (Tijuana)
Peter O’Brien IF-OF (Puebla)
Luis Medina IF (Puebla)
Yoelquis Guibert OF (Jalisco)**
Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Jalisco)
Félix Pérez IF-OF (Tabasco)
Adeiny Hechavarría SS (Tabasco)
Alejandro Rivero IF (Chihuahua)
Orlando Rodríguez RHP (Oaxaca)
*Cuban-American
** Affiliated with FCB