With the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol commencing on today, there will be plenty of Cubans seeing action in the Aztec circuit. Over 30 Cubans will be on LMB rosters to open up the campaign on Thursday for the 100th edition of the Mexican summer tournament.
Henry Urrutia who is a staple in the league and the 2023 LMB batting champion returns to the circuit with the Bravos de León. Last campaign between León and Saltillo the Cuban slugger hit .358 with 7 homeruns and 48 runs batted in. Urrutia adds a veteran presence to a young team looking to make noise and make a playoff run.
Odrisamer Despaigne looks to head a talented Leones de Yucatán rotation. The right-hander from Havana fanned 78 batters in 98 ⅔ innings pitched and was a lot more effective as a starter than his 4.74 earned run average indicated. Look for the talented hurler to have a bounce back season this year. Despaigne was the team’s starter in today’s Opening Day.
After an All-Star selection last season Yoán López looks to return to Unión Laguna’s bullpen and build on a strong 2024 season in the LMB. López was in the back end of the Algodoneros relieving corps posting a 4-1 record, 1.18 earned run average and three saves over 53⅓ innings pitched for the Mexican squad. Expect the hard-throwing righty to be one of the circuit’s top firemen this season.
Leonys Martín also returns to the Conspiradores de Querétaro after swatting 29 longballs and driving in 74 runs, leaving him second and ninth in the league in each statistical category. The ex-big leaguer was also fifth in slugging (.630) and sixth in OPS (1.040) in the Mexican tournament last year.
Cuban players on LMB Opening Day Rosters:
Elían Leyva RHP (Jalisco)
Loidel Chapelli IF-OF (Tabasco)
Félix Pérez OF (Tabasco)
Roel Santos OF ( Tabasco)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Tabasco)
Miguel Neira RHP (Tabasco)
Henry Urrutia IF (León)
Josimar Cousin RHP (León)
Osiel Rodríguez RHP (León)
Luis Medina IF (León)
Maikel Serrano IF-OF (Saltillo)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Yucatán)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Yucatán)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Yucatán)
Aledmys Díaz IF (Yucatán)
Josh Fuentes IF (Yucatán)*
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Durango)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Campeche)
Richard Guasch RHP (Aguascalientes)
Oscar Marten OF (Aguascalientes)
Orlando Martínez OF (Aguascalientes)
Michel Báez RHP (Monterrey)
Diosbel Arias OF (Monclova)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (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)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Querétaro)
Coaches:
Jesús Manso: Pitching Coach (Unión Laguna)
Yoan Carlos Pedroso: Hitting Coach (Querétaro)
*Cuban-American