Yoel Yanqui is one of the Cuban players contracted in foreign leagues, but not aligned with the FCB who will be in the upcoming Cuban Liga Élite when it begins in March. The slugger from Santiago de Cuba will play in this tournament for the first time since his previous participations were in the Serie Nacional. He will wear the jersey of the Avispas de Santiago de Cuba, which are one of the six teams that qualified for the tournament.
Although he has had an outstanding results in the Venezuelan Liga Mayor , he has never been called to represent Cuba in an international event. He has also been present the last three seasons in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball Winter League with Cardenales de Lara and Navegantes de Magallanes.
He spoke with the local press about his willingness to represent Cuba in a tournament. “I have always said that if they call me I will say yes to joining the Cuban National Team, I hope they keep me in mind for the next international events. I enjoy playing in Cuba, we still have the quality to have better results,” he told reporter Guillermo Rodríguez Hidalgo Gato outside Guillermón Moncada Stadium.
In 2024 in the LMB with the Marineros de Carabobo , Yanqui hit .388 via 66 hits in 170 visits to the plate The infielder also swatted 11 home runs with 40 RBIs in addition to an on-base percentage of .451 and a slugging percentage of .671. It was a campaign superior to that of 2023 in the level Double-A competition in Venezuela.
Yaqui could be a player who adds power to the Cuban National Team in some international event. So far they have not called him but this could change if MLB players refuse to assist the Cuban team in the next World Baseball Classic. For now he will concentrate on performing with Santiago de Cuba until his participation in the Liga Mayor begins in the summer.
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