Midway through the winter league season Cubans continue to appear on Caribbean rosters. With the PROBEIS season in Panamá right around the corner Yoisel Serrano and Andy Vargas inked with the Nacionales de Panamá, while Yadiel Hernández released by the LIDOM signed with the Águilas de Mexicali and right-hander Orlando Rodríguez returns to the Gigantes de Carolina.
Yoisel Serrano and Andy Vargas both come off representing Cuba in international events. Vargas was one of the few bright spots for Cuba in the Premier 12. In 5⅔ innings pitched the native of Havana posted a 1.59 earned run average and notched Cuba’s only victory in the tournament. Serrano during the Copa del Caribe in Bahamas gave up a run in 4⅓ innings pitched for the national team.
In the case of Hernández the outfielder switches from one Águilas (Cibaeñas) team to another (Mexicali) after being released in the LIDOM after hitting .189. The slugger returns to the Liga ARCO where he had a couple of great seasons with the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in 2020 and 2021. This summer in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol the ex-big leaguer hit a solid .300 with 14 longballs and 70 RBIs with the Tecolotes de Dos Laredos.
Rodríguez returns to the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente once again with the Gigantes de Carolina where he was a jack-of-all trades for the team’s pitching staff. The righty had a 1-1 record 1.89 earned run average and a save in 15 games, six of which were starts. The hurler joins Carolina and will definitely be a big part of the team’s pitching corps.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Gigantes)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)*****
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Estrellas)
Luis Avilés IF (Estrellas)***
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
José Barrero IF-OF (Estrellas)
Bryan Lavastida C (Estrellas)*
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Elih Marrero C (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros,Licey)**
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)
Luis Avilés Jr IF (Mazatlán)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Mexicali)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Orlando Rodríguez RHP (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)
Yoan Moncada 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)
Pedro Echemendia RHP (La Guaira)
Yoennis Yera LHP (La Guaira)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Aragua)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Aragua)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Aragua)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Aragua)
Raymond Figueredo RHP (Aragua)
Frank Medina 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)
Yordanys Linares OF (Islas Margaritas)
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)
Rogelio Quesada RHP (Tren del Norte)
Yordan Nodal LHP (Chinandega)
Xian Vega IF (Chinandega)
Pablo Salgado LHP (Chinandega)
Adrián Moreno IF (León)
Luis Medina IF (Bòer)
LCBP:
Amaury Tamayo RHP ( Cartagena)
Robin Fernández IF ( Barranquilla)
Yassel Pino IF (Sincelejo)
PROBEIS:
Yusniel Padrón RHP (Atlanticos)
Heisell Baro RHP (Águilas)
Andy Vargas RHP (Nacionales)
Yoisel Serrano RHP (Nacionales)
*Cuban-American
** Released by Toros
***Released by Estrellas
**** Released by Escogido
***** Released by Águilas