Ariel Pestano Jr, son of Cuban catching legend Ariel Pestano was declared draft eligible by Major League Baseball today clearing the way for him to be selected by a team in the upcoming Rule 4 draft in July of this year. Pestano who is represented by Gladys Alonso of A&F Sports had a private workout for various MLB teams earlier this year.
Pestano Jr. left Cuba in June after requesting his release from Cuban Baseball Federation. The catcher then boarded a flight to Managua, Nicaragua, then making a journey through various countries in Central America to reach the United States, the same journey that thousands of Cubans have made over the last few years.
After leaving the Cuba, he settled in Mexico for a while and on October 7, of last year he arrived on American soil. He was invited to the Cañeros de Los Mochis training camp earlier that month. At 27 years old, he still has the opportunity to be drafted by a major league ballclub. Pestano has played six Series Nacionales between 2017 and 2024. In the his campaign with Villa Clara he hit .276 with 8 doubles, seven homers, 37 RBIs and an OPS of .829.
Pestano is another of the long line of sons of renowned players to come out of Cuba. The list that began systematically around 2010 is growing every day. Victor Victor Mesa,Victor Mesa Jr., Miguel Vargas, Norge Carlos Vera, Yuli Gurriel, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Patrick Meriño are some of the children of ex-stars in Cuba who have managed at one time or another to sign with MLB organizations.
The younger Pestano is a switch hitter with excellent defensive skills, with a good swing on both sides of the batter’s box, but with some problems making contact. Expect the backstop to sign with an independent organization in order to showcase his skills leading up to the upcoming draft.