Plenty of Cubans will see action this season in the Liga Mayor de Venezuela, which enters its third campaign of operation. As of right now seven Cubans have signed to play in the Venezuelan summer circuit. Expect more players from the Largest of the Antilles to sign before the league commences its season.
Yoel Yanqui returns to the defending league champion the Marineros de Aragua. The Cuban was the first player in the history of the league to hit for “the cycle.” Last year he was second in the league in batting average (.395). The native of Santiago de Cuba figures to be a big bat in the team’s lineup. The slugger also hit six longballs and drove in 23 runs on the season.
Yoel Yanqui returns to Carabobo with @Marineros_bbc! ⛴️💪🏼 The Cuban was the first @LMBP_ve player to hit for “the cycle.” Last year he was second in the league in batting average (.395). . #Cubanbaseballdigest #LMBP pic.twitter.com/vganmBuDtn
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) March 5, 2024
Legendary left-hander Raúl Valdés will once again play for La Guaira, but this time the city’s other team, the Centuaros. Valdés is coming of a stellar performance in the Serie del Caribe tying his countrymen Camilo Pascual for the most victories in the tournament’s history. Last season with the Delfines de La Guaira he had a 4-0 record and a 4.74 earned run average in eight starts.
Alay Lago will make his debut in the circuit after the cancelation of the Generales de Durango of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. In 2022 the infielder set the Nicaraguan Winter record for hits with El Tren del Norte. Lago was also the league’s MVP that season. Last season with El Tren he hit .329 in 24 games.
Sources: The @samanesbbc are in negotiations with @CubanaBeisbol for the services of:
• Luis Vicente Mateo INF
• José Ramón Rodríguez RHP
• Geonel Gutiérrez LHP
• Yordan Manduley INF#CubanBaseballDigest #LMBP pic.twitter.com/uO6UnzLtCU
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) February 29, 2024
Cubans that will see action in the LMBP:
Samanes de Aragua:
▪︎ Yordan Manduley INF
▪︎ Geonel Gutiérrez LHP
▪︎ José R. Rodriguez RHP
▪︎ Luis Vicente Mateo
▪︎ Alay Lago INF
Marineros de Carabobo:
Yoel Yanqui INF
Centuaros de La Guaira:
Raúl Valdes LHP