MLB 2022 | Soler's power in Miami, Arozarena adds four hits, Blanco had first MLB hit, and more

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources.

Jorge Soler (Photo: MLB)

May 21, 2022

Yoán Moncada has been dropped to seventh in the White Sox' lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.

It likely has something to do with the White Sox facing Yankees' lefty Nestor Cortes on Saturday afternoon, but Moncada is hitting just .200/.256/.350 with two homers in 43 plate appearances since returning from the injured list. It'll be Andrew Vaughn bumped up to the second spot in Chicago's order in this one.

May 20, 2022

Randy Arozarena went 4-for-5 with a walk against the Orioles on Friday.

Arozarena hit four balls at least 103 mph tonight, though since he couldn't get them into the air, he settled for all singles. At least his average is up to .245, which is higher than he's been at any point since Apr. 17.

Jorge Soler went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Friday in his return to the Marlins' lineup.

Soler returned Friday evening after missing two consecutive games with back stiffness and launched a two-run homer off Braves' starter Charlie Morton in the sixth inning. It was his eighth round-tripper of the season. The back issue doesn't sound like a serious concern moving forward.

Lourdes Gurriel (hamstring) was held out of the Blue Jays starting lineup on Friday.

Gurriel was removed from Wednesday's game due to renewed tightness in his left hamstring. The encouraging news, is that he was available off of the bench on Friday and isn't expected to require a trip to the injured list. Expect him to return to the lineup at some point before the weekend is through.

Astros' Yordan Álvarez received rest on Friday.

Álvarez found himself on the bench for the first time in over a month. He's having a strong season at the plate, hitting .248/.357/.570 with 12 homers, though he's gone hitless in five of his last six games, so a day off will probably do him some good. Michael Brantley will rest his legs as the designated hitter in his absence, with Chas McCormick starting in left.

Dairon Blanco's first MLB hit.

Dairon Blanco became the Cuban #26 to debut this year. In the fifth inning against lefty Devin Smeltzer, Blanco laced a single down the third-base line for his first career hit, then was called out trying to advance to second base. Blanco went 1-for-2 and also had a great catch in center field in the fifth inning. The 29-year-old was originally signed by the A's in 2017, he was one of the two players the Royals received when trading lefty Jake Diekman to Oakland back in 2019. He had a rough go of it in Double-A following that trade, but Blanco has posted solid minor league numbers in 2021 (.277/.350/.441) and so far in 2022 (.263/.381/.442) between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Blanco swiped 41 bases in 55 tries last year, and he’s out to a 13-for-13 start in that department so far in 2022.

Rangers' Andy Ibánez was out of lineup on Friday.

Ibánez was on the bench Friday against the Astros. Ibánez hit the bench for just the second time in the last 10 games. He's struggled significantly in the month of May, hitting just .081/.190/.081. Nathaniel Lowe and Brad Miller will handle the corner infield spots Friday.

Nationals' Yadiel Hernández took seat against left-hander. Hernández didn't start Friday's game against the Brewers. Hernández drew starts in the last five games and hit .300 with a homer, five RBI and two runs, but he'll get a breather with left-hander Eric Lauer on the mound for Milwaukee.