Cuban pitcher Elián Leyva has signed a contract with the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). The right-hander played for the reigning champions last season in the LIDOM, and all signs point to his return to wear the red and black colors of the team from Santo Domingo.
Leyva returns to a league and a team for which he was the Opening Day starter in 2024. Leyva didn’t fair very on well on the hill last season. The hurler pitched 14.2 innings with a 6.75 ERA, however, the right-hander earned one win in five games.
In addition to his time with the Escogido in LIDOM. Leyva also pitched in the Venezuelan Baseball League with the Tiburones de La Guaira posting a 1-0 record and a 7.43 earned run average. During the summer of 2025 he saw in the Mexican Baseball League with the Charros de Jalisco, but left the team due to an injury.
The righty has extensive experience in various international leagues, such as the Chinese Professional Baseball League with Rakuten, as well as the Atlanta Braves’ minor league system. He also represented Spain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic Qualifier, while also previously pitching for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Leyva thus became the second Cuban player to participate in a World Baseball Classic with the Cuban national team and then represent another nation in a Qualifier. The first to accomplish this feat was catcher Rolando Meriño, who played in the 2009 WBC with Cuba and then with Spain in 2016.
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)
Norge Ruiz RHP (Escogido)
Elían Leyva 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)*
Jimmy Yacabonis 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)
Oscar Colás OF (Guasave)
Félix Pérez 1B/DH (Nayarit)
Victor Mesa JR OF (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)
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)
Adrián Del Castillo C (Santurce)*
Franny Cobos RHP (Ponce)
Aledmys Díaz IF (Caguas)
ABPN:
Maikol Pérez OF (Chinandega)
Eddy Díaz IF(Chinandega)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Daniel Figueroa IF (El Tren del Norte)
Raico Santos OF (El Tren del Norte)
Yassel Pino OF (El Tren del Norte)
Yoel Yanqui IF (Bóer)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Bóer)
Armando Dueñas RHP (Bóer)
Lázaro Alonso IF (Rivas)
Maikel Serrano OF (Rivas)
Henry Urrutia IF (Rivas)
*Of Cuban descent