Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources
April 6
Yoán Moncada is not in the White Sox starting lineup Thursday against the Giants.
The hot-hitting Moncada will get his first breather of the young season. Hanser Alberto will start at third base and hit fifth. Also of note, Andrew Benintendi will slide down to the sixth spot against lefty Alex Wood.
White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Getting a day off. Grandal is not in the White Sox' lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Giants. Grandal will get some rest after catching three straight and five of the first six games this season. Seby Zavala will catch Lance Lynn.
White Sox's Oscar Colás: Sitting again versus lefty. Colás is absent from the White Sox' lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants. Colas might not be in a strict platoon with Romy González, but he has been on the bench both times his team has faced a lefty in the early going. For what it's worth, Colás batted .362/.417/.533 against southpaws in the minors last season.
April 5
Jorge Soler knocked in four runs with a pair of homers Wednesday in leading the Marlins to a 5-2 win over the Twins.
Jorge Soler launched a 409-foot home run off Pablo López for the early 1-0 lead in the first inning against the Twins. In the bottom of the eighth, Soler continued his hot streak with a 3-run home run that extended Miami's lead to 5-1.De La Cruz's RBI single earlier in the inning and the home run ultimately decided the game. This season, Soler has made a big impact for the Marlins, whether it's with his homers or his glove. He is looking to prove what made him a former All-Star and World Series MVP. Soler has three homers and three doubles among his seven hits this season. Soler is a 35-homer threat if things go well for him this season.
Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada go 3-for-8 combined.
Luis Robert Jr. had an excellent Wednesday afternoon going 3-for-4 against the Giants in a 7-3 win. Robert had two singles and added his second double of the year. It was in the fifth inning, when Robert doubled on a line drive to bring home Elvis Andrus. Luis Robert is slashing .333/.333/.630 to start the year, with 2 homers and 3 RBI. In the same game Yoán Moncada, the All-World Baseball Classic Team third baseman recorded an RBI single off Sean Hjelle and went 2-for-4 in the game. Moncada is also having a great start of 2023 with 2 homeruns, 5 RBI and a slash line of .440/462/.840.
José Adolis went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs against the Orioles on Wednesday.
José has had a great start to the season slashing .348/.375/.522 with a homer and 5 RBI. He went 2-for-4 Wednesday and added his first double of the year. It is expected that José Adolis will have another strong season, after hitting 58 homers and 60 doubles the last two years with the Rangers.
Astros' Yordan Álvarez and José Abreu went 2-for-6 combined Wednesday.
Álvarez went 1-for-2 adding his 10 RBI of the year and his second walk. Meanwhile Abreu, who is slashing .345/.406/.379 with 3 RBI but no homers, went 1-for-4 and is now in a seven-game consecutive hitting streak.
Yulieski Gurriel was out Wednesday.
Gurriel didn't see action on Wednesday 5-2 win against the Twins. He is getting used to be just a backup infielder for the Marlins, after great success with the Astros during his first seven MLB seasons that included four trips to the World Series and two WS championships. He is slashing .375 in all categories in only three games and 8 at bat with the Marlins this year. I don't think this is the role the soon to be 39-year old was planning to have when he signed with Miami weeks ago.
Athletics' Aledmys Díaz: Was out Wednesday. Díaz took a seat Wednesday versus the Guardians. Díaz got a breather after starting the first five games of the season, going 3-for-19 with an RBI and a run scored over those contests. Nick Allen drew the start at shortstop and batted eighth in Wednesday's series finale with Cleveland.
