The amount of Cubans in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol keeps getting bigger every given day. Yesterday two more from the largest island in the Caribbean have inked deals. Right-hander Norge Ruiz (Monterrey)and infielder Diosbel Arias (Monclova) have signed in the LMB.
Ruiz who pitched in the majors with the Oakland Athletics saw action this winter with the winter version of Monterrey and the Leones del Escogido posting a 2-5 record, 4.79 ERA and fanned 24 in 47 innings pitched. The hurler looks to exhibit his talents for MLB teams or squads in Asia.
In the case of Arias who was once a heralded prospect for the Texas Rangers, the infielder won a title in the circuit with the Diablos Rojos de México City last season hitting .328 with five longballs and 23 runs batted in with the flagship club of the Mexican circuit. The winter he suited up with the Tomateros de Culiacán of the Liga ARCO Mexicana de Béisbol and Sultanes de Monterrey, but barely hit his weight.
Look for both Cubans to be key figures in the lineup and rotation of the teams in question. Last season there was a large contingent of Cubans in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and that trend looks to be repeating itself once again this campaign. With plenty of imported players on LMB rosters, look for a high quality of play once again this season in the third strongest league on the planet.
Cubans signings in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol for 2025:
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Tabasco)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Tabasco)
Osday Silva OF (Tabasco)
Félix Pérez OF (Tabasco)
Roel Santos OF ( Tabasco)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Tabasco)
Luis Avilés Jr OF (Tabasco)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Saltillo)
Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Saltillo)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Veracruz)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Yucatán)
Elían Leyva RHP (Yucatán)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Yucatán)
Yolbert Sánchez IF (Yucatán)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Durango)
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Oaxaca)
Frank Abel Álvarez RHP (Oaxaca)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
Richard Guasch RHP (Aguascalientes)
Norge Ruiz RHP (Monterrey)
Diosbel Arias OF (Monclova)
Peter O’Brien OF (Puebla)*
*Cuban-American