Many fans of the Venezuelan Winter League have wondered why Geisel Cepeda has been noticeably absent from the team’s lineup in the beginning of the campaign. I spoke with the cousin of Cuban legend Frederich Cepeda yesterday, and he had this to say about his situation with the Tiburones de La Guaira this winter:
“Good afternoon. The team called me a week before the start of the season, saying they had signed another outfielder, saying they’d call me for anything, but that right now they wouldn’t count on me.”
“And then, you know, I demanded my right to play for the team because I have the right to. They called me a week before the start of the season to tell me that, you understand?All the leagues and all the teams already have their foreign players, they have all their reinforcements. So I’m talking to Nicaragua and Colombia. I’m going to reach out to Nicaragua, to Colombia, anywhere, and tell them that I’m ready.”
The ex-MLB prospect had a strong season in the Liga Mayor de Venezuela this year slashing .413/.468/.513/.981 with three homeruns, 34 runs batted in and seven stolen bases in 167 at-bats with the Caciques del Distrito. The 27-year-old played two seasons in the Texas Rangers’ farm system reaching as far as Frisco (AA). In 147 games in the team’s minor league system he hit .247 with six longballs and 58 RBIs. Cepeda will be activated by the Caliente de Durango of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. His results this winter in Venezuela will determine his future endeavors.
Cubans that have signed with teams this winter:
LIDOM:
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Coco Montes IF (Estrellas)*
Ernesto Martínez Jr IF-OF (Estrellas)
Darién Núñez LHP (Escogido)
César Prieto IF (Escogido)
Sal Stewart Jr IF (Escogido)*
Norge Ruiz RHP (Escogido)
Andrew Pérez LHP (Licey)*
Victor Labrada OF (Licey)
Armando Álvarez IF (Licey)*
Raynel Delgado IF (Águilas)
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Carlos Rodríguez RHP (Toros)**
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)
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Mexicali)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Mexicali)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Obregón)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Obregón)
Ariel Miranda LHP (Obregón)
Julio Robaina LHP (Guasave)
Félix Pérez 1B/DH (Nayarit)
LVBP:
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Lara)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Miguel Romero RHP (Caracas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Magallanes)
Julio Rodríguez RHP (Magallanes)
Roel Santos OF (Islas Margarita)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Aragua)
LBPRC:
Josimar Cousin RHP (Mayagüez)
Sandy Gastón RHP (Carolina)
Pedro Santos RHP (Carolina)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Santurce)
LBPN:
Maikol Pérez OF (Chinandega)
Eddy Díaz IF(Chinandega)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Yoel Yanqui IF (Bóer)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Bóer)
Armando Dueñas RHP (Bóer)
Lázaro Alonso IF (Rivas)
*Cuban-American
**Cuban-Nicaraguan