Yunieski García has been named the Pitcher of the Week for the last week in the LBPN. In his first season in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nicaragüense the Cuban right-hander has been one of the circuit’s most dominant pitchers and might just be the season’s most valuable pickup for the league’s defending champion.
In a week that saw of a lot of offense, García had the best pitching performance, holding Chinandega to no runs in seven innings pitched via one hit, striking out seven and allowing two walks in the Gigantes 7-0 blanking of the Tigres. For the pitcher it was his first win of the season after two previous losses. However, García is also third in the league, with a 2.00 ERA in 27.0 innings tossed. In seven games he has fanned 23, leaving him second in the LBPN, rivals also hit .235 against him on the campaign.
Over the last eight seasons García was been one of the Serie Nacional’s best hurlers with Artemisa posting a 41-23 record, 3.81 earned run average and 371 strikeouts in 481⅓ innings pitched over that span. Earlier this year the righty decided to part ways with the Cuban Federation and made his way to México signing with the Pericos de Puebla. For the Mexican squad the Cuban was not effective at all posting a 67.50 ERA and taking a loss in one outing leading to his subsequent release.
García was kept off of the Cuban National Team for the Central American Games after being declared a flight by the Cuban Federation. These events led to the subsequent rupture in relations with the player and the FCB. With playing on the Cuban squad no longer an option look for García to establish himself in the Caribbean summer and winter leagues for years to come.