With Opening Day set for today, there are plenty of Cubans to see action in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. Julio Robaina will be the pitcher tonight for the Algodoneros de Guasave against the Tomateros de Culiacán.
Robaina was in the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional with the Leones del Caracas. In four starts with the Venezuelan squad he posted a 4-1 record and 5.28 earned run average. This summer he had 3.17 ERA in 12 starts with the Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol.
Yadiel Hernández will team up with Yadir Drake in Mexicali after a stellar season with Dos Laredos in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. The native of Matanzas, Cuba hit .340 with 26 longballs and 96 run batted in over .335 at-bats. Drake on the other hand .362 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs with the Leones de Yucatán this summer.
Orlando Martínez was a big acquisition for the Tomateros de Culiacán. The slugger from the Astros farm system will head an offensive attack that includes his countrymen Albert Lara and Julio Pablo Martínez. The native of Havana hit .270 in 60 games at Corpus Christi (AA) and .362 with 16 homeruns in 54 games with Aguascalientes in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol.
Cubans who will see action in the Liga ARCO:
Albert Lara IF (Culiacán)
Orlando Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Leonys Martín OF (Los Mochis)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Los Mochis)
Yasmany Tomás 1B (Los Mochis)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (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)**
Victor Mesa JR OF (Nayarit)
*Cuban-American
** Injured