As of right now their will be a few Cubans showcasing their talents in the independent circuits. With the downsizing of the minor leagues due to the increased pay of players, expect plenty more players from the Largest of the Antilles to find their way to these leagues.
Guillermo García will play with the Quebec Capitals of the Frontier League, an independent league that takes place in Canada and the United States during the summer. The 23-year-old player is coming off two seasons in the Chunichi Dragons farm system in the Nippon League where he debuted with the big ball club in 2022 hitting .111 in nine at-bats. In 35 games last season with the Dragons’ junior club he hit .235 with two longballs, 10 runs batted in and slashed .336/.347/.683 , in addition to swatting five doubles and scoring 12 runs.
Ex-@RaysBaseball prospect Patrick Meriño has signed to play with the @BoiseHawks of the @PBL1939.#Cubanbaseballdigest #PioneerLeague pic.twitter.com/d0R702NmfO
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) March 19, 2024
Ex-Cuban League prospect Daniel Pérez will return for another season in the American Association with the Sioux City Explorers. In 74 games with the club last season Pérez hit .229 with nine longballs, 35 runs batted in and slashed .322/.372/.693. During his time in Cuba, Pérez was a highly valued prospect by the FCB, the infielder was part of several Under 23 national teams including the 2020 World Cup in Honduras. The slugger was a key player and the fourth hitter for a Cuban team that finished second in the tournament. In his seven National Series, the Pérez hit .306 with 11 home runs, 143 RBIs and a .387/.398/.786 slash line.
The Pioneer League which is primarily a prospect league will include to interesting players. Rafi Vazquez and Patrick Meriño will be the only two Cubans seeing action in the circuit. Merino who is an ex-Tampa Bay Rays prospect spent three years in the minors with the organization slashing .241/.407/.515/.922 over that span. Vazquez on the other hand, who is converted pitcher had a 4-5 record and 6.49 earned run average between the Frontier and Pioneer Leagues.
Cubans in Independent Leagues:
Frontier League:
Guillermo García 1B-OF (Québec)
Willie Escala OF (Sussex)*
Laz Rivera IF-OF (Ottawa)*
Heisell Baro RHP (New England)
Atlantic League:
None as of yet
American Association:
Daniel Pérez IF (Sioux City)
Pioneer League:
Rafi Vazquez RHP (Ogden)*
Patrick Meriño C-OF (Boise)
*Cuban-American