With Spring Training in the Mexican League right around the corner rosters for the Aztec teams are starting to shape up. In recent days two big name free agents inked deals with LMB teams. Outfielder Roel Santos returns to Tabasco, while right-hander Frank Abel Álvarez inked a deal with the Guerreros de Oaxaca.
Álvarez who saw action in the minors last year with the Chunichi Dragons primarily as a reliever and sources tell me that Oaxaca is looking to convert the Cuban hurler into a starter. Armed with a fastball that hits between 93-95 MPH and a wicked assortment of breaking pitches that includes an above-average split finger Álvarez could make an impact with the team’s pitching corps.
Santos on the other hand returns to Tabasco after splitting last season between the Olmecas and Querétaro. In five seasons in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol the speedster hit a robust .353 and is one of the league’s premier leadoff hitters having also stolen 48 bases over that span. The outfielder also sports a career a sterling .419 on base percentage over his career in the circuit.
Both Santos and Álvarez played together this year with the Cuban National Team in Premier 12 during November and have plenty of international experience, that also includes being part of the country’s semifinal squad in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Cubans signed with the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol:
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Tabasco)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Tabasco)
Osday Silva OF (Tabasco)
Roel Santos OF ( Tabasco)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Saltillo)*
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Veracruz)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Yucatán)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Yucatán)
Elían Leyva RHP (Yucatán)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Durango)
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Oaxaca)
Frank Abel Álvarez RHP (Oaxaca)
Richard Guasch RHP (Aguascalientes)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Unión Laguna)