The Dominican Winter League has added two talented players and one legendary player has been invited to camp in order to make a LIDOM ballclub. Cuban-Americans Sal Stewart Jr and Alek Manoah will be playing for the Leones del Escogido, while left-hander Raúl Valdés will be invited to camp by the Gigantes del Cibao.
Valdés who has won more than 50 games in the Dominican Winter League will get another chance to win a spot in the most talented league in the Caribbean. The hurler pitched win the Toros del Este and the Tigres del Licey last season combining for an 0-2 record and a 10.50 ERA over four starts.
Stewart who made his MLB debut this season will be making his debut in a winter league this year. In 10 games with the Reds this year is hitting .250 with three homeruns and 10 runs batted in. The #1 prospect in the team’s farm club will play in the Caribbean circuit in order to be ready for camp next year and win a job with the ballclub.
In the case of Manoah the right-hander is on the comeback path after a slew of injuries. In four MLB seasons the hurler has a 29-20 record and a 3.34 earned run average. If he can regain his form Manoah can be a top of the rotation starter with the Toronto Bluejays in the 2026 MLB season.
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)
Sal Stewart Jr IF (Escogido)
Alek Manoah RHP (Escogido)
Andrew Pérez LHP (Licey)*
Victor Labrada OF (Licey)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Licey)
Armando Álvarez IF (Licey)*
Raynel Delgado IF (Águilas)
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Gigantes)
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)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (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