FEPCUBE made a astonishing announcement two days ago, legendary Cuban hurler Yunesky Maya will pitch with the organization during the offseason and saw action in their January 18th matchup with the Miami-Dade College baseball team. Maya’s addition adds a little star power to the young Federation’s squad in their second year of existence.
Maya returned to the LIDOM late this season with the Gigantes del Cibao after being released by the Tigres de Aragua of the LVBP, as reported by the colleague Francys Romero. The crafty right-hander added a veteran arm that the squad was sorely lacking. In 10 seasons in the league the hurler sports a 22-22 record and a 2.91 earned run average. Maya won a championship with the team in 2022 and saw action in the Serie del Caribe that season. This season he posted a 9.00 ERA in two starts with the Gigantes.
After a heralded career in the LIDOM with the Tigres del Licey, Leones del Escogido and the Águilas Cibeañas right-hander Yunesky Maya won 12 games and posted a 2.81 earned run average with the Santiago club. “The Warrior” as he is known by the Cuban faithful will now take his talents to FEPCUBE this offseason in order to showcase he skills and vast pitching knowledge to possibly secure a summer job.
Over his career Maya has seen action in MLB, Asia and the Mexican League. The pitcher even tossed a no-hitter with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization in April of 2015 against the Nexxen Heroes, becoming only the second foreign pitcher to perform in the feat in the circuit.
You are a veteran, a player who brings a storied to FEPCUBE. How do you feel about these guys?
Very happy to arrive and see these young guys and also a few others that I have played with. I’m very happy to represent FEPCUBE. We hope to have a good practice and that in tomorrow’s exhibition game the guys can show that they are ready.
You have been playing baseball for decades, from Pinar del Río to the entire world. What’s your plan, do you think there’s still enough baseball for Yunesky Maya?
Well, last year I had a pretty serious problem in my shoulder, so I went to Mexico and they gave me good treatment there. I’m with the Gigantes now in the LIDOM and I was throwing 88-90 mph, I feel super good. Now I return to Mexico with the Campeche Pirates and I feel good, I am preparing myself physically, mentally and psychologically to go and have another good season. I hope to God to have another outstanding season, since my arm is responding well. As long as I can get outs, I’ll be here.
You have been a standout player in the Dominican Winter League. Will you play another year in the Dominican Republic, or do you think you go to Mexico and it’s over there.
I think so. You know that I am a warrior, I am very optimistic. It’s the only possibilities I have. This year I was with the Gigantes and there were good conversations had after the season, so I think maybe they’ll give me another chance. If not, well, there are already offers out there such as pitching coach or assistant manager, then I will think about it and talk about it with my family. But I hope to God that they give me even one more year to win again before making the decision to leave the mound.
What did you see differently this year at LIDOM with analytics?
I saw that the starters were pitching less innings less than other years. It’s something incredible, baseball has changed a lot. Now we have a manager with an iPad in there, and then someone behind us monitoring the velocity and spin of the ball. Baseball has evolved a lot. The starter doesn’t always work five innings, sometimes only three or four and then it’s to the bullpen. In the LIDOM semi-final the bullpen saw a lot of work. This year the pen has done most of the work in the Dominican Republic, not the starters.
How will your time with FEPCUBE for influence your preparation for the summer, will you see action in tomorrow’s game?
Well, tomorrow my son plays in his tournament and it’s going to be a little difficult for me. But if I hope to get there and if they need me I’ll be pitching my inning, or a third or whatever it takes. I’ll be available for them. I don’t think it’s necessary, since I see a lot of young arms here and I know they are going to do the job. We have to give them the opportunity, I will mostly be here giving them advice.
Do you have a date to join the Campeche?
Yes, I’m going to meet on tp report April 17 and spring training will begin there. The season should begin on May 15-16.
Are you happy with everything you have achieved in your career?
Super happy. I didn’t have the opportunity to do it in the Major Leagues, but at the same time it is a lesson for all those guys that it is not just the MLB, there is baseball all over the world. I think that I have been able to bring home the bread to my family playing in other leagues such as the Dominican Republic and Mexico. I feel very happy, after coming from being a ball collecter in a stadium and practically without having any degrees, achieving everything I have achieved is very satisfying for me.
Do you feel with the desire and patience to be a coach?
Yes, I love it. I love transmitting what I have learned, the sacrifices, the frustrations what one has sometimes gone through. My mechanics have always been very good, so why not pass that on to them so that they can be successful tomorrow.