CBS recently released its top 50 players at the mid-season point and it included six players of Cuban heritage in that lot. Yordan Álvarez (3), Andy Pagés (22), Miguel Vargas (24), Randy Arozarena (32), Nick Martínez (39) and Yandy Díaz (43) were the players of Cuban origin among the news network list.
Yordan Álvarez of the Houston Astros is the top Cuban on the list at #3. The slugger is having a career year and is the odds on favorite for the Most Valuable Player in the American League. The native of Las Tunas, Cuba leads the American League in average (.325),homeruns (35), runs batted in (80), hits (126), OBP (.435), Slugging (.647), OPS (1.082) and runs (74). Barring injury Álvarez should hoist the MVP trophy in the postseason. Álvarez made his fourth All-Star Game this season.
Andy Pagés of the Los Angeles Dodgers is next on the list at #22 and is having a breakout season in his own right. The outfielder his established himself as a bonafied five tool player. Pagés has gone downtown 17 times this season, driven in 69 runs and stolen 10 bases on the campaign. On the defensive side of the ball the Cuban sports a .993 fielding percentage, 13 assists, 5 OAA and a 17 DRS making him a prime candidate for Gold Glove this season. Pagés garnered his first All-Star selection in third season as a professional.
Miguel Vargas in his fourth season as a pro is having a breakout season with the Chicago White Sox and earned his first All-Star selection of his career. The infielder from Havana has slugged 22 homeruns so far on the season, driven 63 runs and stolen 11 bases. Vargas has also scored 72 runs that places him second in the American League in that statistical category. The young Cuban also sports an above-average .830 OPS on the season.
Seattle’s Randy Arozarena is having the most complete season of any Cuban in the major leagues. The outfielder made the All-Star squad for the third time in his career. Arozarena is slashing .281/.374/.450/.824 with 13 homeruns, 47 runs batted in, 19 stolen bases and 66 runs scored. The native of Pinar del Río, Cuba is in route to his sixth straight 20-20 season.
Cuban-American righty Nick Martínez is having a career year as well and tossed a scoreless inning in his first All-Star appearance with that Tampa Bay Rays. Martínez on the campaign sports a 10-2 record placing him second in the league in statistical category and his 2.45 earned run average is also second in the junior circuit. His sterling 1.10 WHIP should give him good enough numbers to garner him some Cy Young votes in the American League.
Yandy Díaz also of the Tampa Bay Rays is the last one on the list. The 2023 American League batting champion also found his way to the All-Star Game this season and his having another solid year. “El Caki” as he is known the Cuban faithful is hitting a solid .301 placing him second in the American League in that statistical category. His 61 runs batted in place him second on his team in that stat second only to Junior Caminero. Diaz is also third in the American League with 119 hits. His .833 OPS and 14 homeruns have the makings of an excellent season.