Jimmy Yacabonis has been a key reliever for the Toros del Este in their run to a LIDOM finals series. The Cuban-American righty posted four holds during the Round Robin placing him second in that phase of the tournament in that statistical category.
Over his three seasons in the Dominican Winter League the hurler has an impressive 2.39 earned run average primarily as a reliever to go along with 20 strikeouts in 26⅓ innings pitched and sports a sterling 1.17 WHIP on the mound.
Cuban Baseball Digest spoke with Yacabonis prior to the series and asked him about a few things about his role in the series and what endeavors he has planned after the playoff series and heading into the summer. With a 3-2 wun against the Leones del Escogido in last night’s game the Toros are now only down 2-1 in the championship series.
Jimmy, you’ve been a key reliever with this ball club. What’s your exact role at the ball club?
I mean, I’m just gonna come in and just get outs when they want me to get outs. Just try to make some competitive pitches, just attack the zone and get in and get out of there, hopefully I can set it up for the back end of the game.
You’re in the finals for the first time. How does it feel and how’s the atmosphere?
I mean, I haven’t played in the round robin before, so playing in the whole round robin and doing that whole experience for those 18 games, that was pretty special. We got special group of guys here and I’m excited to see what the capital looks like tonight.
Being of Cuban descent, how do you feel to be in a country that’s similar to Cuba geographically and the people have are also very, very similar to Cubans?
Yeah, after coming here for three years, I really feel at home down here, especially in La Romana. Just having the same staff, having a lot of the same teammates and just a lot of the same people around feels good. We have a good supporting cast and a good group here.
If you win the final, will you be available for the Serie del Caribe?
It’s something I’m about to talk to my agent about. I’m still trying to figure out my plans for the spring and the summer coming up. So once I get that kind of figured out, then maybe I’ll be able to make a decision on that, but I don’t know just yet if I’m going to be available for it.
Do you have any offers on the table for the summer?
Right now a have a few offers from Mexico City, where I was the last two years, and I’m trying to get some interest in the States, see if I can get something cooking there for spring training. But it’s getting to that time where they’re going to start signing guys. Maybe someone gets hurt and I could fill a spot. But right now, just Mexico City.