The amount of Cubans inking deals with Independent Leagues continues to grow. For the third day in a row two more players from the largest of the Antilles signed deals in the American Association and the Intercounty League of Canada.
Andy Vargas who is a very versatile hurler will be one of six Cubans playing with the Kitchener Panthers. Yunior Ibarra, Yordan Manduley, Yankiel Mauri, Yosvani Peñalver and Yadian Martínez will be the others. Vargas who has seen plenty of international action with Cuba posted a 1-1 record and 2.70 ERA in the 2023 Serie del Caribe held in Venezuela. Over his five seasons in Cuba he has a 13-9 record, 4.47 earned run average and 13 saves for Industriales and Portuarios.
In the American Association, ex-Astros farmhand Franny Cobos will join his countrymen Yusniel Díaz with the Lincoln Saltdogs. The diminutive right-hander spent last in the minors with the team from Space City and their minor league club, the Asheville Tourists. In 57 innings primarily as a reliever he had a 6-2 record and a 5.34 ERA. The Cuban hurler is very effective delivery due to his quirkiness and could be a key contributor for Lincoln out of the pen.
Cubans in Independent leagues as of 2-18-25 :
American Association:
Yusniel Díaz OF Lincoln Saltdogs
Franny Cobos RHP Lincoln Saltdogs
Rogelio Quesada RHP Fargo-Moorhead
Frontier League:
Heisell Baro LHP New England*
Atlantic League:
No Cubans on rosters
Intercounty League of Canada:
Yadian Martínez RHP (Kitchener)
Yankiel Mauri RHP (Kitchener)
Yosvani Peñalver OF (Kitchener)
Yordan Manduley IF (Kitchener)
Yunior Ibarra C (Kitchener)
Andy Vargas RHP (Kitchener)
*Team contract option