After all the speculation that Yasiel Puig would not be returning to the Tiburones de La Guaira the team’s press announced yesterday that the talented outfielder would be returning to the ballclub for a second consecutive season.
Last winter with Venezuelan squad Puig was a feared hitter since coming over from the LIDOM. During the regular phase of the LVBP tournament “The Wild Horse” hit 10 bombs and knocked in 23 runs en route to leading the Tiburones to their first Winter League title in over three decades . In total Puig has hit 16 longballs during winter league season.
Puig played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with Veracruz this summer hitting .314 with 18 homeruns, 43 runs batted in and slashed .410/.610/1.020 in 64 games with the Aztec ballclub. The slugger will also be joined by his countrymen Miguel Romero, Leonys Martín and Yurisbel Gracial on the team’s roster.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Andy Rodríguez RHP (Águilas)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Pedro León OF (Estrellas)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Estrellas)
Luis Avilés IF (Estrellas)
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Escogido)
Liga ARCO:
Yasmany Tomás IF (Los Mochis)
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Los Mochis)
Roel Santos OF (Los Mochis)
Victor Labrada OF (Guasave)
Yadir Drake IF-Of (Guasave)
Yoel Yanqui IF (Mazatlán)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Santurce)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
LVBP:
Leonys Martín OF (La Guaira)
Miguel Romero RHP (La Guaira)
Yurisbel Gracial 3B-OF (La Guaira)
Yasiel Puig OF (La Guaira)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Aragua)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Aragua)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Aragua)
Bryan Chi RHP (Aragua)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Aragua)
Onelki García LHP (Magallanes)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
LBPN:
Yuniesky García RHP (Rivas)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Rivas)
*Cuban-American