Sources have told Cuban Baseball Digest that Colorado Rockies outfielder Yanquiel Fernández, MLB’s #92 prospect, will return with the Leones de Ponce of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente for the upcoming winter season.
Fernández is hitting .269 with 10 homeruns and 57 this season between Hartford (AA) and Albuquerque (AAA). The fourth-ranked prospect in the team’s farm system is projected to debut in the big leagues next season, but might be a surprise late season call-up depending on the circumstances.
Last season in Ponce the touted slugger hit .225 with a longball and seven runs batted over a 25 game span. With a season under his belt and more maturity, expect Fernández to make some noise in the Leones’ lineup. The young Cuban will use this winter to hone his craft and be ready to fight for a big league job next spring with the Rockies.
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)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Ciudad Obregón)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Santurce)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
Yanquiel Fernández OF (Ponce)
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