José Abreu has signed to play winter league ball with the Senadores de San Juan of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente. The slugger will be looking to find a new opportunity to continue his career in the majors and with a good showing in the Caribbean circuit could earn him an invitation to an MLB camp this coming spring.
Abreu slashed .099/.156/.113 in 22 games to start the 2024 season, and on May 1st, he accepted a minor league assignment for the first time in his career, going to the Astros’ Spring Training facility in Florida. During his stint in the Florida Complex League, Abreu played 5 games and hit .318 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBIs. Following this, he played two games in Triple-A but went hitless in 7 at-bats
Abreu returned to the team on May 27th, going 1-for-3 in his first game back and hitting his first home run of the season on June 1st. However, he hit just .167 in 13 games before being released from the team. Abreu finished his season with the Astros slashing .124/.167/.195 in 35 games
Abreu’s time in Houston did not go as expected after signing his deal and leaving the White Sox, replacing fellow Cuban Yuli Gurriel at first base. Over his career with the Astros, he played 176 games and slashed .217/.275/.351 with a .625 OPS.
Abreu is one of the most decorated Cuban players in MLB history. A superstar in the Cuban National Series and international play for Cuba, Abreu signed a six-year, $68 million contract with the White Sox in 2013 at 26 years of age He won the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year, the 2020 AL MVP, is a three-time All-Star (2014, 2018,2019), a three-time Silver Slugger (2014, 2018, 2020), and also received the Hank Aaron Award in 2020. Abreu has led the AL in RBIs twice (2019,2020) and was selected to the 2020 All-MLB Second team
Stevens reports to Los Mochis
Félix Stevens has reported to camp as per our sources with the Cañeros de Los Mochis of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. The power-hitting Cuban is a the nephew of ex-big leaguer and Cuban star Barbaro Cañizares. Stevens bring a big bat to the lineup to augment Yasmany Tomás.
In Puerto Rico with the Gigantes de Carolina last season he hit .235 with a homer and 12 runs batted in over a 19 game span with the winter league ballclub. The Cubs prospect has drawn interest from Japanese teams during the last season.
In 115 games with South Bend (+A) and Tennessee (AA), both farm clubs of the team from “Windy City” he hit .237 with 18 doubles, two triples and 20 homeruns, while also driving in 73 runs. Look for the versatile Stevens to either play first base, outfield or even serve as the designated hitter on various occasions.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Andy Rodríguez RHP (Águilas)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
César Prieto(Águilas)
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Pedro León OF (Estrellas)
José Barrero OF (Estrellas)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (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)
Félix Stevens OF (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)
Reynaldo Álvarez RHP (Mexicali)
Luis Avilés IF (Mazatlán)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Bryan Chi RHP (Santurce)
Félix Pérez DH-OF (Santurce)
Yanquiel Fernandez OF (Ponce)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Ponce)
Aledmys Díaz IF (San Juan)
José Abreu 1B (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)
Pedro Echemendia RHP (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)
Darién Núñez LHP (Anzoátegui)
Julio Robaina LHP (Caracas)
Rangel Ravelo 1B (Lara)
LBPN:
Yuniesky García RHP (Rivas)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Rivas)
Rusney Castillo OF (Rivas)
Yosmany Guerra IF (Rivas)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Maikel Serrano OF (Tren del Norte)
Pablo Salgado LHP (Chinandega)
Yordan Nodal (Chinandega)
Xian Vega IF (Chinandega)
Adrián Moreno IF (León)
*Cuban-American