With the foreign phase of the Liga ARCO Mexicana de Béisbol taking place yesterday various Cubans were selected by teams in the circuit. Vladimir Gutierrez (Monterrey), Alejandro Rivero (Navojoa), Yurisbel Gracial (Culiacán), Leonys Martín (Guasave),Yoan López (Los Mochis), Yoanner Negrín (Obregón).
Martín who is second in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol in homeruns will likely not play with Guasave, due to the fact that he already signed with defending Serie del Caribe Champion La Guaira in Venezuela. His teammate in the summer with Querétaro Yurisbel Gracial was taken by Culiacán. The slugger is hitting .366 with 17 longballs and 54 RBIs. Alejandro Rivero has been a find for Chihuahua hitting .297 from the shortstop position in 45 games with the ballclub and could pay dividends for the Mayos.
Now amongst the pitchers selected Yoanner Negrín is the most established in the winter circuits, although he has not seen action in the majors like his younger counterparts. Negrin who has won 31 games over 10 winters returns to Obregón, a team he pitched for in 2022. The right-hander has won more than 80 games in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with Yucatán and Tabasco.
In the case of ex-big leaguers Yoan López and Vladimir Gutierrez each team that selected the hurlers are getting young, but experienced arms. Gutierrez saw action in MLB this season with the Marlins and could bolster Monterrey’s rotation, while López was a LMB All-Star with Unión Laguna this year and could be lights out as a closer for Los Cañeros.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Andy Rodríguez RHP (Águilas)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Luis Avilés IF (Estrellas)
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Liga ARCO:
Yasmany Tomás IF (Los Mochis)
Victor Labrada OF (Guasave)
Yoel Yanqui IF (Mazatlán)
LVBP:
Leonys Martín OF (La Guaira)
Miguel Romero RHP (La Guaira)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Caracas)
LBPN;
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Rivas)
*Cuban-American