After all the speculation that Yasiel Puig would be returning to the major leagues via an invitation to Spring Training with the Tampa Bay Rays, the talented outfielder instead has signed with the Rojos del Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League to return to the ballclub. The move was announced late yesterday.
This winter with 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 during winter league season.
Puig played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with Veracruz in 2021 hitting. 312 with 12 doubles, 10 homeruns, 43 runs batted in and eight stolen bases in 62 games. The Cubans will team up with his countrymen Luis Avilés Jr to give the squad a potent tandem in their batting order.
Outfielder @YasielPuig signs with @elaguilabeisbol for the upcoming season in the @LigaMexBeis.#Cubanbaseballdigest #LigaMexBeis pic.twitter.com/WdSdHbSxlK
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) March 16, 2024
Cubans who have signed to play in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol:
Eddy Díaz IF (León)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (León)
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Saltillo)
Luis Avilés Jr IF-OF (Veracruz)
Yasiel Puig 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)
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)*
Greg Veliz RHP (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)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Tabasco)
Alejandro Rivero IF (Chihuahua)
Orlando Rodríguez RHP (Oaxaca)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Campeche)
Josuán Hernández IF-OF (Campeche)***
*Cuban-American
** Affiliated with FCB
*** Invited to Csmp