César Prieto is on the cusp of making his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals. The native of Cienfuegos, Cuba was a highly sought after bat after he decided to leave the island prior to the 2021 pre-Olympic tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Prieto inked a deal with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 and was scaling the team’s minor league system went he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals as the centerpiece of the Jack Flaherty trade during the 2023 trade deadline. In his three seasons in the O’s and Cardinals’ farm system the infielder slashing a solid .292/.334/.432/.766.
This winter the talented Cuban returned to the Aguilas Cibaeñas of the LIDOM for another season and with a mission set forth by the redbirds to work on a few things before Spring Training with the goal of being in optimal shape and winning a job with the big club at the break of camp.
I see you more at the plate in your second year with the Águilas. What adjustments have you made?
I think I’ve really been working a lot with the strike zone and getting more familiar with it. I’ve been making several adjustments to my approach and I think I’m actually feeling much more comfortable.
Did your team (San Luis) send you a training plan for the winter?
Yes, there are several things that, as you know, I needed to work on, and that was one of the biggest reasons why I came here to the Dominican Republic: to be able to implement them here.
Your countryman Yadiel Hernández is here with you. Does that make you feel more comfortable here in the Dominican Republic?
It’s always good to have people from Cuba with you. It give you a little more support. It is a more familiar environment the fact that he is here.
In spring training last you had the opportunity to share third base with another Cuban: Nolan Arenado. Did he give you any advice?
I really had the chance to speak little with him, but I think what he told me really helped me a lot.
Will you play the entire season with the Águilas?
Yes, that’s what I think. By the time the season is over I will join the team for Spring Training.