Former big leaguer Norge Luis Ruiz signed with the Conspiradores de Querétaro earlier today bringing the number of Cubans scheduled to play with the Mexican League ballclub to a whopping 10. The 2013 Rookie of the Year in the Serie Nacional pitched in the minors with the Oakland Athletics and opted for free agency at the end of the season. Ruiz signed with the A’s in 2016 for 2 million as an international free agent.
The right-hander made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2022 pitching in 19 games with a 0-1 record and 7.11 earned run average. In 152 minor league game with Oakland he compiled a 22-20 balance, 5.30 ERA and saved five games. In 358 innings pitched on the farm he fanned 262 batters and posted a 1.51 WHIP.
Expect Ruiz to join his countrymen Jorge Martínez, Carlos Juan Viera and Miguel Romero if he doesn’t sign in Taiwan on the Conspiradores’ rotation. After not playing winter ball due to the fact that he was dealing with a minor injury, Ruiz is looking to use the LMB as a springboard to more a lucrative contract in Asia or a return to an MLB organization.
Right-hander Norge Luis Ruiz signs with the @ConspiradoresQr. The former big leaguer is represented by @cperez58. #CubanBaseballDigest #LMB pic.twitter.com/Law1hLii1q
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) February 19, 2024
Cubans who have signed to play in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol:
Eddy Díaz IF (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)
Norge Luis Ruiz RHP (Querétaro)
Yosmany Guerra IF (Querétaro)
Leonys Martín OF (Querétaro)
Rusney Castillo OF (Querétaro)
Roberto Baldoquín IF (Querétaro)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (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)
Pablo Guillen RHP (Oaxaca)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Campeche)
*Cuban-American
** Affiliated with FCB