What has been a record year for signings in the Winter Leagues for Cubans has had two more players ink deals with teams in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nicaragüense, while another player will make his first start in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico.
Miguel Romero, who was recently released by the Tiburones de La Guaira of the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional signed yesterday with the Gigantes de Rivas of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nicaragüense. A key piece in the team’s Serie del Caribe championship last season had a dismal season with the team posting an 0-5 record and 8.58 earned run average in seven starts.
Maykel Taylor, who was part of Cuba’s Premier 12 team will play for El Tren del Norte of the LBPN. The right-hander has a 3-8 record and 5.45 earned run average in four seasons in the Serie Nacional with the Industriales of Havana. This will be the hurler’s first experience in a professional league outside of the island. Taylor joins his countrymen Alay Lago, Maikel Serrano, Rogelio Quesada on the squad’s roster.
In other news Roenis Elías will make his first start with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. The lefty from Guantánamo, Cuba has a 9-7 and 2.62 ERA in five winter league seasons with the Cardenales de Lara and the Águilas Cibaeñas. This summer with SSG Landers of the KBO Elías had a 7-7 mark combined with a 4.08 earned run average.
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)
Leonys Martín OF (Licey)
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,Monterrey)
Roenis Elías LHP (Monterrey)
Norge Ruiz RHP (Monterrey)
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)
Miguel Romero RHP (Rivas)
Pavel Hernández RHP (Rivas)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Maikel Serrano OF (Tren del Norte)
Rogelio Quesada RHP (Tren del Norte)
José Martínez OF (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
******Released by Licey