With the season starting tomorrow 26 players of Cuban Heritage will be on active MLB rosters to open the season. With the number of Cubans leaving the island increasing in search of a career in professional baseball, expect to see the number of Cubans to increase gradually of the next five years.
Possibly the best hitter to come out of the Serie Nacional, Yordan Álvarez headlines this year’s crop of Antilleans on major league rosters. Last season in 114 games with Houston the native of Las Tunas, Cuba hit .298 with 31 longballs, 98 runs batted in and slashed .407/.583/.990.
Coming off his first All-Star season and a newly signed 3-year, 42 million dollar deal with Arizona the outfielder is looking to expand on his career high in homeruns (24), hits (144) and doubles (35). Expect the youngest of the Gurriel clan to be a big part of the Diamondbacks lineup the season.
There will be 26 players of Cuban heritage on the active MLB Opening Day rosters to commence the 2024 season on tomorrow:
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI)
Adrián Morejón LHP (SD)
Dairon Blanco OF (KC)
Nick Fortes C (MIA)
Jorge Soler OF (SF)
Nestor Cortés LHP (NYY)
Carlos Rodón… pic.twitter.com/CHTkpkUyQ5
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) March 28, 2024
Cuban-American Nolan Arenado (.266,26HR,93RBI) is looking to rebound from a good season for a mere mortal, but not by his standards. Arenado failed to win a Gold Glove for the first time in his career. The Cardinals third baseman will more than likely make a stop in Cooperstown when it is all said and done.
Raisel Iglesias of the Braves saved 30 or more games for the fifth time in his career and fanned 68 batters in 55 ⅔ innings pitched. In his career Iglesias has more than 10 saves of six outs or more. Expect Iglesias to reach 200 saves this season, making him the second Cuban to do so in MLB history.
Adolis García looks to hit 30 homers and drive in 90 runs for the third straight year. The ALCS MVP will be a key cog in the Rangers quest for repeat. “El Bombi” as he is known by the Cuban faithful is one of the most dynamic players in the majors. García is a threat to have a 30-30 season.
Yandy Díaz (.330,22HR,78RBI) and Randy Arozarena (.254,23HR,83RBI, 22SB) are the sparkplugs to Tampa’s offense. Díaz is looking to defend his AL Batting Title. For Arozarena it was his third straight 20-20 season. Is there a more dynamic duo than these two in baseball?
José Barrero cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A, Round Rock Express, per sources.
A few days ago he was informed that he would be on the Opening Days team but on Thursday he was DFA. pic.twitter.com/KdCikWiRGX
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) March 27, 2024
Cubans on opening day rosters:
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI)
Adrián Morejón LHP (SD)
Dairon Blanco OF (KC)
Nick Fortes C (MIA)*
Jorge Soler OF (SF)
Nestor Cortés LHP (NYY)
Carlos Rodón LHP (NYY)*
Raisel Iglesias RHP (ATL)
Yennier Cano RHP (BAL)
Cionel Pérez LHP (BAL)
Tristón Casas 1B (BOS)*
Yoan Moncada 3B (CHW)
Luis Robert Jr OF (CHW)
Nick Martínez RHP (CIN)*
Andy Ibáñez IF (DET)
Alex Faedo RHP (DET)*
Zach Neto SS (LAA)*
Nick Castellanos OF (PHI)*
José Abreu 1B (HOU)
Yordan Álvarez OF-DH (HOU)
Aroldis Chapman LHP (PIT)
Yandy Díaz 1B (TAM)
Randy Arozarena OF (TAM)
Adolis García OF (TEX)
Nolan Arenado 3B (STL)*
J.D. Martínez OF-DH (NYM)*
*Cuban-American