Sources have revealed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that right-hander Elian Leyva will be the pitcher for the Leones del Escogido on the LIDOM’s Opening Day on Wednesday versus the Tigres del Licey.The pitcher, who comes over from the Liga ARCO Mexicana de Béisbol has the most games won in that from 2018 to the present day with 29. Leyva was pitcher of the year in Mexico in 2018 when he won the triple crown of the Aztec circuit.
The Cuban also won the LAMP pitcher of the year in 2021, while becoming the first pitcher to win that award and pitch an immaculate inning in the same campaign. The hurler pitched in the LIDOM as a reinforcement for the Gigantes del Cibao in 2022. This summer Leyva pitched in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Leones de Yucatán going 6-2 with a 3.86 ERA.
The righty pitched in the CPBL during the 2023 season with the Rakuten Monkeys posting a record of 4-3, a 3.88 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 67 ⅓ innings pitched in route to an All-Star selection in the Asian circuit. Leyva looks to exhibit his talents for another league in the the Far East this winter.
Leyva who was a member of the Cuban National Team in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 also served as a pitching coach for México in the 2024 Serie del Caribe this February in Miami. In total 15 Cubans and one Cuban-American will grace the field this year in the LIDOM. Leyva will share the rotation with his countrymen, lefty Ariel Miranda.
Cubans in the LIDOM in 2024:
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)
José Barrero IF-OF (Estrellas)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Elían Leyva RHP (Escogido)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Escogido)