A multitude of Cubans have joined Mexican with spring training recently commencing. Leonys Martín, Yosmany Guerra, Rusney Castillo and Yurisbel Gracial have been announced as returning to the Conspiradores de Querétaro, while Albert Lara and Yoán López will be back with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. Ex-White Sox prospect Loidel Chapellí Jr has earned an invite to training camp with Tabasco.
With Querétaro Guerra (.349,4HR,41RBI), Martín (.305,29HR,74RBI) and Gracial (.382,24HR,83RBI) were key cogs in the team’s lineup, while Castillo (.351,3HR,19RBI) was a key contributor late in the season after joining club. If all of these hitters are in the lineup next season it will give the Conspiradores plenty of Cuban firepower in the batting order.
Yoán López was arguably one of the best relief pitchers in the LMB with Unión Laguna tossing 53⅓ innings in which he posted a 1.18 earned run average and fanned 54, while also saving three games earning him an All-Star selection in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. Lara on the other hand slashed .336/.377/.441/.817, went yard on an occasion and knocked in 19 run over 52 games with the Algodoneros last season.
Chapellí Jr who was released by the White Sox early this year hit .263 with 20 homeruns and 106 RBIs over three seasons in Chicago’s farm system. In order to make the club the utilityman must impress the team with a strong preseason. His father Loidel Chapellí Sr was a heralded player with Camagüey in the Serie Nacional.
Cubans signed with teams in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol:
Onelki García LHP (Jalisco)
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Tabasco)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Tabasco)
Osday Silva OF (Tabasco)
Loidel Chapelli IF-OF (Tabasco)
Félix Pérez OF (Tabasco)
Roel Santos OF ( Tabasco)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Tabasco)
Luis Avilés Jr OF (Tabasco)
Miguel Neira RHP (Tabasco)
Henry Urrutia IF (León)
Josimar Cousin RHP (León)
Luis Medina IF (León)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Saltillo)
Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Saltillo)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Veracruz)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Yucatán)
Elían Leyva RHP (Yucatán)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Yucatán)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Yucatán)
Josh Fuentes IF (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)
Oscar Marten OF (Aguascalientes)
Norge Ruiz RHP (Monterrey)
Michel Báez RHP (Monterrey)
Diosbel Arias OF (Monclova)
Peter O’Brien OF (Puebla)*
J.P. Martínez OF (Puebla)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Dos Laredos)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Dos Laredos)
Yoan López RHP ( Unión Laguna)
Albert Lara IF (Unión Laguna)
Leonys Martín OF (Querétaro)
Rusney Castillo OF (Querétaro)
Yosmany Guerra IF (Querétaro)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Querétaro)
*Cuban-American