Adriel Labrada, 32, debuted for the Ibaraki Astro Planets in the Baseball Challenge League on April 28th, 2024. He arrived in Japan on April 27th and played for the team the following day, starting as the designated hitter and batting fourth in the lineup.
Labrada hit his first home run for the Astros Planets in the 4th inning, a solo shot to left field off Masahiko Adachi.
Before joining the Ibaraki Astro Planets, Labrada played in the Cuban National Series from 2009 to 2022 with his hometown team, Avispas de Santiago de Cuba. Over eight seasons, he had a batting average of .295, with 37 home runs and 207 RBIs in 446 games.
In 2022, Labrada left Cuba for Nicaragua before making his way to the United States. He played in the Coastal Baseball Classic held in Houston, Texas, where he had three hits in 6 at-bats, three RBIs, and a walk.
In his final season in Cuba, Labrada slashed .350/.449/.563 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 74 games. The former captain of the Avispas de Santiago, aims to bring his offensive production to his new team in Japan.