Sources have confirmed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that Victor Labrada will play for the Tigres del Licey of the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Profesional in the upcoming winter league season. Labrada who is a Seattle Mariners prospect is a big edition for the league’s marquee club.
This season between Arkansas (AA) and Tacoma (AAA) he’s slashing .283/.396/.407/.803 with seven homeruns, 13 doubles, a triple and 47 stolen bases in 111 games on the season. The speedy outfielder has been more than adequate in the field making only one error in 770⅔ innings this year in the minors.
Expect Labrada to hit first and player centerfield for the team on Opening Day in the LIDOM. For a player who will be fighting for a roster spot next spring for the Mariners expect the Cuban to see a lot of at-bats in order to help him develop as a player and be ready for major league camp come next March.
Cubans that have signed with teams this winter:
LIDOM:
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Eddy Díaz IF (Estrellas)
Ernesto Martínez Jr IF-OF (Estrellas)
Darién Núñez LHP (Escogido)
Andrew Pérez LHP (Licey)*
Víctor Labrada OF (Licey)
Raynel Delgado IF (Águilas)
Liga ARCO:
Albert Lara IF (Culiacán)
Orlando Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Leonys Martín OF (Los Mochis)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Los Mochis)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Los Mochis)
Yasmany Tomás 1B (Los Mochis)
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Mexicali)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Mexicali)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Obregón)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Obregón)
Julio Robaina LHP (Guasave)
Félix Pérez 1B/DH (Nayarit)
LVBP:
Geisel Cepeda OF (La Guaira)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Lara)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Miguel Romero RHP (Caracas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Magallanes)
Roel Santos OF (Islas Margarita)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Aragua)
LBPRC:
No Cuban signed as of yet.
LBPN:
Maikol Pérez OF (Chinandega)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Chinandega)
*Cuban-American