With call-up of Bryan Ramos to the majors today a record 34 Cubans have played in big leagues this year breaking a record set in 2022 and 2024. The infielder saw action in today’s White Sox 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. To make room for the Ramos the team designated Josh Rojas for assignment.
Before being called up the native of Havana was hitting .218 with 14 homeruns and 46 runs batted in at Charlotte (AAA) in 95 games on the season. Last campaign in which he made his major league debut with Chicago he slashed .202/.252/.333/.585 with three longballs and 11 RBIs.
With the mass exodus of baseball talent the began in 2006 after Alexei Ramírez decided to leave Cuba and try his luck in the majors, expect the amount of Cubans playing in the big leagues to grow from here on out. Cuba which was the biggest exporter of major league talent before Fidel Castro closed the island to professional baseball looks to be headed back down that path.
Cubans that played in MLB this season:
1. Lourdes Gurriel Jr LF (Arizona)
2. Daysbel Hernández RHP (Atlanta)
3. Raisel Iglesias RHP (Atlanta)
4. Yennier Cano RHP (Baltimore)
5. Cionel Pérez LHP (Baltimore)
6. Aroldis Chapman LHP (Boston)
7. Luis Robert OF (Chicago White Sox)
8. Miguel Vargas IF (Chicago White Sox)
9. Edgar Quero C (Chicago White Sox)
10. Bryan Ramos IF (Chicago White Sox)
11. Dairon Blanco OF (Kansas City)
12. Yoan Moncada IF (LA Angels)
13. Jorge Soler OF (LA Angels)
14. Víctor Mederos RHP (LA Angels)
15 Andy Pagés OF (Dodgers)
16. Yuli Gurriel IF (San Diego)
17. José Iglesias IF (San Diego)
18. Adrián Morejón LHP (San Diego)
19. Randy Arozarena OF (Seattle)
20. Yandy Díaz IF (Tampa Bay)
21. Adolis García OF (Texas)
22. Yariel Rodríguez RHP (Toronto)
23. Lázaro Estrada RHP ( Toronto)
24. Orlando Ribalta RHP (Washington)
25. Andy Ibáñez IF (Detroit)
26. Yordan Álvarez OF-DH (Houston)
27. Néstor Cortés Jr LHP (Milwaukee/San Diego)
28. Victor Mesa Jr OF (Miami)
29. José Barrero IF-OF (St. Louis)
30. Yosver Zulueta RHP (Cincinnati)
31. Yanquiel Fernández OF (Colorado)
32. Luis Danys Morales RHP (Athletics)
33. Johan Oviedo RHP (Pittsburgh)
34. César Prieto IF (St. Louis)