With the winter league season right around the corner and teams commencing their training camps various Cubans have come into the news via the transaction logs. Yordan Nodal and Adeiny Hechavarría have homes, while Ariel Miranda will get his release from his contract.
Miranda who was supposed to return this season to La Guaira this season will be granted his release by the team. The left-hander had a combined 3-3 record and a 4.37 earned run average with the Águilas Cibaeñas and Tiburones de La Guaira last winter. The lefty was part of the team’s venezuelan league and Serie del Caribe championships. Sources tell me that the hurler is going to sign with the Leones del Escogido of the LIDOM.
Hechavarría also returns to the Gigantes de Carolina of the LBPRC. Last season with the Puerto Rican squad the infielder hit .260 with 15 runs batted in over 34 games last season. This summer the ex-big leaguer went yard eight times and drove in 25 runs with the Olmecas de Tabasco over a 70 game span.
In the case of Nodal he will be making his winter league debut with the Tigres de Chinandega of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nicaragüense. The ex-Astros’ prospect will be making his debut in the Caribbean this winter. This season Nodal pitched with Bravos de León posting a 1-3 record and 6.97 ERA over 19 games (10 starts). The left-hander will make a good addition to the team’s pitching corps based on his versatility.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Andy Rodríguez RHP (Águilas)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
Yoán López RHP (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)
Elían Leyva RHP (Escogido)
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)
Diosbel Arias IF (Culiacán)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Ciudad Obregón)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Santurce)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
Bryan Chi RHP (Santurce)
Félix Pérez DH-OF (Santurce)
Yanquiel Fernandez OF (Ponce)
Pedro Echmendia RHP (Ponce)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Ponce)
Aledmys Díaz IF (San Juan)
Josimar Cousin RHP (Mayagüez)
LVBP:
Leonys Martín OF (La Guaira)
Miguel Romero RHP (La Guaira)
Erlys Casanova 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)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Aragua)
Onelki García LHP (Magallanes)
Yoel Yanqui 1B (Magallanes)
Peter O’Brien OF (Magallanes)*
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Richard Guasch RHP (Anzoátegui)
Julio Robaina LHP (Caracas)
LBPN:
Yuniesky García RHP (Rivas)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Rivas)
Rusney Castillo OF (Rivas)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Yordan Nodal (Chinandega)
*Cuban-American