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02/17/2006 Archived Entry: "A Look at Cuban Players in USA or Awaiting Tryouts in other Countries"
A Look at Cuban Players in USA or Awaiting Tryouts in other Countries by Cubano
When I write that a player is in a third country, he may be a free agent or he may be working out with teams interested in him but waiting for his legal papers to travel to the USA.
Kendry Morales
MLB Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Cuban Team: Industriales Lions
Place of Birth: Fomento, Santi Spiritus, Cuba
DOB: 06/20/83
Switch Hitter 1B/DH/Outfielder
As a member of the Industriales Lions of the Cuban National League, he broke rookie records for hits (114), RBI (82), HR (21), Extra Bases (46) and Runs (60). The people in Havana City called him Super Kendry.
After signing with the Angels, he missed all 2005 Spring Training trying to establish legal status in the Dominican Republic.
He hit a HR in his first at bat for Rancho Cucamonga (A). He was promoted quickly to the Arkansas Travelers (AA) where he hit 17 HR in just 74 games. He also had 54 RBI and a 306 batting average. He hit three HR in a game against San Antonio.
The Angels sent him to the Arizona Fall League where he finished third in hitting (380), third in OBP (444) and first in doubles (14).
Cuban National Series Stats
Series AB H AVE 2B 3B HR SLU RBI BB K
3 871 287 330 60 5 37 537 170 116 124
Juan Miguel Miranda
MLB Team: Free Agent in the Dominican Republic
Cuban Team: Pinar del Rio Cigar Makers
Outfielder
Miranda put numbers similar to those of Kendry Morales. He played one more season than Morales in Cuba. His fielding percentage was a decent 981.
Cuban National Series Stats
Series AB H AVE 2B 3B HR SLU RBI BB K
4 1138 343 301 70 14 57 538 205 197 242
Alain Soler
MLB Team: New York Mets
Cuban Team: Pinar del Rio Cigar Makers
Place of Birth: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
DOB: 10/09/79
Pitcher
Alain Soler repertoire includes a 96 MPH fastball, sinker, three types of sliders, changeup and occasional knuckleball. He was the ERA leader in the 42nd Cuban National Series with 2.01. He also went 10-4 in 125 1/3 innings in 2003, striking out 102 and walking only 17. He defected and established legal status in the Dominican Republic after 2 years of his defection. He played for the Escogido Lions in the Dominican Winter League in 2004. He went 0-2 with a 5.28 ERA in five games. In 15.1 innings, he allowed 14 hits, nine runs, earned, with six walks and 23 strikeouts.
He was a teammate of Jose Contreras (White Sox) and Danys Baez (Dodgers) in Cuba.
Puerto Rico Winter League 2005
Ponce Lions Stats
W-L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WP AVG
3- 2 2.37 8 6 0 0 0 38.0 24 11 10 3 2 11 25 1 .180
Cuban National Series Stats
Series W L W % S INN AVE ERA SO BB
5 24 9 0.727 0 270.1 239 3.53 235 109
Yamel Guevara
MLB Team: Free Agent in the Dominican Republic
Cuban Team: Industriales Lions
Place of Birth: Playa, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
DOB: 05/09/83
Pitcher
Yamel Guevara has exceptional physical abilities. His repertoire includes a 94 MPH fastball, great curveball and slider. During the 42nd Cuban National Series, Guevara finished with a perfect 10 and 0 record and 2.06 ERA. Hitters batted an anemic 198 average against him.
Cuban National Series Stats
Series W L W % S INN AVE ERA SO BB
3 18 7 0.72 0 243.2 222 2.99 223 129
Yuniesky Betancourt
MLB Team: Seattle Mariners
Cuban Team: Villa Clara Orange Growers
DOB: 01/31/1982
Birthplace: Santa Clara, Cuba
SS/2B
He has great speed and can hit for an average. He has shown some power. His best assets are his soft hands and strong arm. Some scouts have compared him to Omar Vizquel. In Cuba, he was a second baseman because Eduardo Paret was the regular SS in Villa Clara.
Cuban National Series Stats
Series AB H AVE 2B 3B HR SLU RBI BB K
4 1187 333 281 60 23 26 436 148 62 123
Brayan Pena
MLB Team: Atlanta Braves
Cuban Team: Cuban Junior Team
DOB: 01/07/1982
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Catcher
Pena is a switch hitting catcher. Last year with AAA Richmond he hit 326. He has played winter ball in the Dominican Republic in the past 2 years. In 2005 winter season and playing for the Gigantes del Cibao, he hit 326 with three homers and 25 RBIs. He ranked second in doubles (15), third in extra-base hits (19) and fifth in hits (61).
He was promoted three times to the Braves last year. He needs to get traded from the Braves because the presence of Brian McCann and young prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Pena has the ability to put the ball in play.
Baseball America has ranked him 15th among the Atlanta Braves Prospects.
