Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources
April 18
Yandy Díaz blasted a three-run homer on Tuesday in the Rays' 10-0 blowout victory over the Reds.
Díaz went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's win over Cincinnati. Díaz crushed his fifth homer of the year off lefty Nick Lodolo in the top of the second inning. He is just four homers shy of his total in 558 at-bats last season. The 31-year-old might be in the midst of a breakout season. He has raised his average launch angle from a mediocre 7.7 degree launch angle to a career-high 16.5 launch angle this year and has smashed five long balls in just 15 games compared to nine homers in 137 games last year. The 31-year-old Díaz is now slashing .259/.380/.552 with 12 RBI and 15 runs scored through 56 at-bats.
Yordan Álvarez was pulled from Tuesday's battle against the Blue Jays in the eighth inning due to an apparent left ankle injury.
Álvarez smacked an RBI (21) single to get the Astros on the board in the eighth inning, but was limping out of the batter's box and hobbled down to first base. He remained in the game to run the bases for a bit -- advancing to second on Kyle Tucker's single -- but was then lifted for a pinch runner. It's possible that it was just due to the situation, but be sure to keep an eye on his status heading into Wednesday's game.
Rangers' Adolis García: Leaves the yard Tuesday. García went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer (4) and a walk in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Royals. García hit the Rangers' second three-run blast of the day, following up one hit by Marcus Semien with one of his own in the eighth to extend the lead to 12-2. García is now tied for fifth in Major League Baseball with 17 RBI, which has saved him from an otherwise underwhelming slash line of .200/.246/.367 through 70 plate appearances this season.
Marlins' Jorge Soler: Tallies three hits in win. Soler went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's victory over the Giants. Soler doubled with one out in the fourth inning before coming around to score on Jazz Chisholm's home run. Soler would add a pair of singles later in the game in the Marlins' 4-2 win. The 31-year-old outfielder has swung the bat well of late, going 7-for-16 with three doubles and two home runs in his last six games. Overall, Soler is slashing .263/.323/.649 with five homers, 10 RBI and eight runs scored through 62 at-bats this season.
Nationals released OF Yadiel Hernández.
Hernández was removed from the Nationals' 40-man roster last November and the organization has decided to part ways with him after just 10 games this season at Triple-A Rochester. The 35-year-old outfielder batted .267/.315/.412 with 19 homers and five steals in 218 games with the Nationals over a three-year period dating back to 2020.
Luis Robert, Oscar Colás and Yasmani Grandal went 2-for-17 in a double header.
In a doubleheader against Philadelphia on Tuesday, Luis Robert, Oscar Colás, and Yasmani Grandal combined to go 2-for-17. Luis Robert went 1-7 with two RBIs and two runs scored, three strikeouts, a walk, and his fifth double of the season. As for Colás, he played in only one game, finishing 0-for-3 with two strikeouts while seeing defensive action in the other. Grandal doubled in one game and finished 1-for-7 in both combined. After a 7-6 loss in the first game, Chicago won 3-0 in the second game.
Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Hitless on Tuesday.
Vargas went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Tuesday in a 5-0 win against the Mets. The promising infielder is slashing .186/.390/.279 with no homers and 3 RBI in 16 games and 60 plate appearances this season.
Rays' Randy Arozarena: Tallies fourth homer. Arozarena went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Reds. Arozarena took Nick Lodolo deep for a solo home run in the fourth inning to tally his fourth long ball of the season. He also singled to lead off the third inning, and the performance was his sixth multi-hit effort in his first 17 contests. Overall, Arozarena has gotten off to a very productive start, driving in 18, scoring 13 runs and swiping two bags all while maintaining a .313 average.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Tuesday that Yoán Moncada (back) is "feeling better."
Grifol added that the club wants to wait until Moncada is back to 100 percent before activating him from the injured list, which seems to indicate that he won't be activated when first eligible on Friday. There should be a clearer timeline for his return sometime this week.
Astros' José Abreu: Counting stats picking up. Abreu went 2-for-4 Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Abreu left two runners on base but lifted his BA to .253 for the season. He has yet to homer this season, but he has two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI across his last six games. Overall, Abreu has a very underwhelming 62 wRC+ and .260 wOBA after 79 plate appearances, but he continues to hit exclusively in the cleanup spot in the Houston lineup.
Yennier Cano continues scoreless for the Orioles and gets his second hold of the year.
Cano continues to have a good start to 2023 after being called up to the Orioles. Against the Nationals on Tuesday, he pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout and faced the minimum amount of batters. Considering he faced four righthanders this season and had struck out all of them, he will be tested more often against them.
Marlins signed RHP Ronald Bolaños to a minor league contract.
Bolaños was released last month by the Royals and has found a new opportunity with the Marlins. The 26-year-old righty provides Miami with some extra organizational relief depth. He's made 18 appearances (five starts) in the majors since 2019.
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