With the season over and being deeply immersed in playoff baseball I am going to release my All-Cuban team for the season and it is going to be based on bWAR since the game has advanced into an era of sabermetrics. Names like Carlos Rodón, Aroldis Chapman, Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena are obvious picks, but some others might surprise.
Díaz (3.4 WAR) has been the most impressive Cuban with the lumber this season hitting .300 with 25 homeruns, 29 doubles and 83 runs batted in. The native of Sagua la Grande, Cuba also swatted 175 hits placing him second amongst latinos on the campaign in the majors.
Randy Arozarena (3.9 WAR) also had a very dynamic season at the plate. The outfielder had a 20-20 season for the fifth straight year. The speedster from Pinar del Río, Cuba was three homeruns from a 30-30 season. The speedster also hit his 100th major league homerun June 30th of this year against the Kansas City Royals.
Cuban-American Carlos Rodón (4.6 WAR) was the most dominant starter this season of Cuban heritage. The left-hander was second in the American League with 18 wins, first among latinos. The flamethrowing southpaw also fanned 203 batters in 195⅓ innings pitched on the season. Rodón also posted a solid 3.09 earned run average on the season.
Zach Neto who led all Cubans with a 5.1 WAR took big steps in his development as a player in his third MLB season. The Cuban-American shortstop also posted a second consecutive 20-20 season and a was very close to a 30(HR)-30 (2B)-30 (SB) season. The sky is the limit for this ascending talent.
Andy Pagés (3.8 WAR) also had a breakout season in his second campaign. The slugger slashed .272/.313/.461/.774 with 27 homeruns and 86 runs batted in at the plate. What makes Pagés so valuable is his ability to be a two-way player, the outfielder had eight assists on the season and eight DRS. Pagés also swiped 14 bases making his case as a five-tool player.
As for the relievers, lefties Aroldis Chapman (3.5 WAR) and Adrián Morejón (2.4 WAR) have a case for the relievers of the year in their respective leagues. Chapman posted his ninth 30-save season, posted a 1.17 earned run average and fanned 85 hitters in 61⅓ innings pitched. Morejón was a jack of all trades this season with San Diego winning 13 games, saving three, securing 20 holds and sporting a miniscule 2.08 earned run average.
My All-Cuban MLB team (Based on bWAR):
1B: Yandy Díaz (Rays): 3.4
2B: Romy González (Red Sox): 2.0*
SS: Zach Neto (Angels): 5.1*
3B: Miguel Vargas (White Sox): 1.8
C: Edgar Quero (White Sox): 1.2
CF: Luis Robert Jr (White Sox): 1.4
RF: Andy Pagés (Dodgers): 3.8
LF: Randy Arozarena (Mariners): 3.9
DH: Adolis García (Rangers): 2.7
RHP: Luis Danys Morales (Athletics): 1.2
LHP: Carlos Rodón (Yankees): 4.6*
RP: Adrián Morejón (Padres): 2.4
CP: Aroldis Chapman (Red Sox): 3.5
*Cuban-American