Two more Cuban-Americans have added themselves to they list of players from the island’s heritage to join the ranks of player to sign with Dominican Winter League squads. Armando Álvarez inked a deal with the Tigres del Licey and Robert “Coco” Montes came to an agreement with the Estrellas Orientales.
Montes who has played in the LIDOM before with Águilas Cibaeñas in 2024 hitting .320 with two homeruns and 20 runs batted in. Montes has also seen action in MLB with the Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies, while also playing the Nippon League the Yomiuri Giants.
In the case of Álvarez he has seen action in a Caribbean circuit with the Yaquis de Ciudad Obregón in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico in 2024. The infielder graced the grand stage with the Athletics during the 2024 season as well slashing .243/.282/.270/.552 in 16 games with the Californian ball club.
Cubans that have signed with teams this winter:
LIDOM:
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Coco Montes IF (Estrellas)*
Eddy Díaz IF (Estrellas)**
Ernesto Martínez Jr IF-OF (Estrellas)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Estrellas)**
Darién Núñez LHP (Escogido)
César Prieto IF (Escogido)
Andrew Pérez LHP (Licey)*
Victor Labrada OF (Licey)
Armando Álvarez IF (Licey)*
Raynel Delgado IF (Águilas)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
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)
Emmanuel Chapman RHP (La Guaira)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Lara)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Miguel Romero RHP (Caracas)
Armando Dueñas RHP (Caracas)
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)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
*Cuban-American
**Invited to Camp