With the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol starting tonight a total of 40 Cubans (37 players,3 coaches) will be on rosters this season. On the eve of another season in México expect Cubans to play a major this season in the LMB. Peter O’Brien had a dream season with Puebla in 2023, not only did the Cuban- American hit a career .316 in México, but he also slugged 20 homeruns and crowned himself champion for a second time in the LMB.
This will be an interesting season for Henry Urrutia, because a 37 years of age he might have a few seasons left in professional baseball. The ex-big leaguer had an atypical season by his standards hitting under .300 for the first time in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, but he did hit 18 longballs and knock in 60 runs in only 85 games. This preseason the infielder has looked superb at the plate hitting three homers and driving in eight runs.
Yadir Drake, who is a mainstay in Yucatán’s lineup returns to reinforce a stacked Leones team. “The Black Panther” as he is known by the Cuban faithful hit a robust .360 and drove in 60 runs for the felines. The robust, but nimble first baseman also managed to steal 10 bases. In total Drake had 27 XBH’s hits on the season. Cuban- American Josh Fuentes will be another dangerous bat in the lineup at the hot corner for Yucatán
With a rotation that includes Odrisamer Despaigne, Yoanner Negrín and Elían Leyva expect Yucatán to also have the best staff in all off México. Despaigne when on is virtually unhittable with his 96 mph fastball and array of breaking pitches. Negrin is a workhorse and a hurler that has won over 55 games in the LMB, while Leyva returns to México after an All-Star year in CPBL.
Since the regular season starts today, here is a list of all the Cubans that will be on rosters in the @LigaMexBeis :
Cubans on LMB rosters:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (México City)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (México City)*
Yoan López RHP (Unión Laguna)
Alain Tandron RHP (Unión Laguna)… pic.twitter.com/Bq3oKart95
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) April 11, 2024
The talented but enigmatic Yasiel Puig returns to Veracruz. In 62 games in 2021 with the club Puig hit .312 with 10 homeruns in 43 RBI’s. Coming off a good winter in which he hit 17 homers and won a Serie del Caribe title the outfielder is looking to build on that momentum and maybe catch-on in Asia or with a little bit of luck return to MLB.
The expansion Conspiradores de Querétaro are counting on an armada of Cubans to fill a void and looking to make some noise. Experienced and talented bats such as Rubi Silva, Roel Santos, Yurisbel Gracial and Leonys Martín will provide some fireworks. While Jorge Martínez and Miguel Romero will provide battle tested arms for the team’s pitching staff.
Heading into his third season in Tabasco Yoennis Yera is the team’s ace. The left-hander holds a sterling 12-5 record, a 2.96 ERA and a no-hitter to his credit against the Generales de Durango during the 2022 season. With the amount of Cubans slated to see action in the LMB this season expect them to be protagonists in the league and expand on their long storied history in México.
Slugger @HenryUrrutia51 had a good preseason with the @ClubSaraperos, hitting 3 home runs and driving in 8 runs. #LMB #Cubanbaseballdigest pic.twitter.com/c7bqATeBCD
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) April 11, 2024
Cubans on LMB rosters:
- Ronald Bolaños RHP (México City)
- Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (México City)*
- Yoan López RHP (Unión Laguna)
- Alain Tandron RHP (Unión Laguna)
- Albert Lara IF (Unión Laguna)
- Eddy Díaz IF (León)
- Lázaro Blanco RHP (León)
- José Nodal LHP (León)
- Henry Urrutia 1B-DH (Saltillo)
- Luis Avilés Jr IF-OF (Veracruz)
- Yasiel Puig OF (Veracruz)
- Rubi Silva IF-OF (Querétaro)
- Jorge Martínez RHP (Querétaro)
- Miguel Romero RHP (Querétaro)
- Yosmany Guerra IF (Querétaro)
- Leonys Martín OF (Querétaro)
- Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Querétaro)**
- Roel Santos OF (Querétaro)**
- Elían Leyva RHP (Yucatán)
- Yoanner Negrín RHP (Yucatán)
- Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Yucatán)
- Lázaro Alonso (Yucatán)
- Yadir Drake IF-OF (Yucatán)
- Josh Fuentes IF (Yucatán)*
- Darién Núñez LHP (Tijuana)
- Peter O’Brien IF-OF (Puebla)
- Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Jalisco)
- Bryan García RHP (Jalisco)*
- Yoennis Yera LHP (Tabasco)**
- Alejandro Rivero IF (Chihuahua)
- Rogelio Quesada RHP (Chihuahua)
- Orlando Rodríguez RHP (Chihuahua)
- Henry Urrutia IF (Saltillo)
- Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
- Ariel Miranda LHP (Campeche)
- Yadiel Hernández OF (Dos Laredos)
Coaches:
Jesús Manso PC (Unión Laguna)
Michel Enríquez HC (Unión Laguna)
Yoan Pedroso HC (Querétaro)
*Cuban-American
** Affiliated with FCB