Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources
On March 30, 2023, Major League Baseball began its regular season and it will end on October 1, 2023.
Several rule changes have been introduced this season. To speed up play, a pitch timer and other minor changes were introduced, as well as limits on defensive shifts and larger bases.
Cuba started the 2023 campaign with 18 active players on the major league rosters, although the list is expected to increase throughout the campaign, with players such as Yosver Zulueta, Andy Pagés, Raisel Iglesias, etc. appearing inactive in the 40-man roster due to various reasons.
We will keep a close eye on them during the 2023 Major League season.
2023 MLB Baseball Players Born in Cuba (40-Man Roster)
1. José Abreu, Houston Astros
2. Yordan Álvarez, Houston Astros
3. Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays
4. José Barrero, Cincinnati Reds
5. Oscar Colás, Chicago White Sox (Rookie)
6. Aledmys Díaz, Okland A's
7. Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
8. Adolis García, Texas Rangers
9. Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox
10. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona Dbacks
11. Yoán Moncada, Chicago White Sox
12. Cionel Pérez, Baltimore Orioles
13. Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
14. Jorge Soler, Miami Marlins
15. Miguel Vargas, Los Angeles Dodgers
16. Néstor Cortés, New York Yankees
17. Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals
18. Yulieski Gurriel, Miami Marlins
19. Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves (40-man roster - IL-15)
20. Yennier Cano, Baltimore Orioles (40-man roster-Minors)
21. Yosver Zulueta, Toronto Blue Jays ( 40-man roster-Minors)
22. Vladimir Gutiérrez, Cincinnati Reds (40-man roster - IL-60)
23. Andy Pagés, Los Angeles Dodgers (40-man roster-Minors)
24. Adrián Morejón, San Diego Padres (40-man roster - IL-60)
March 30
Yordan Álvarez crushed a solo homer on Thursday in the Astros' season-opening loss to the White Sox
Álvarez slashed the Astros' deficit to a single run with a gargantuan 442-foot ninth-inning moonshot off hard-throwing righty Reynaldo López. The 25-year-old fantasy superstar has shown zero signs of rust, despite missing the majority of spring training due to a left hand issue. He'll receive the occasional day off as the Astros monitor his workload at the outset of the season, but he remains as productive as ever with a bat in his hands.
Grandal went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Astros
The White Sox were unable to get on the scoreboard through seven innings before Grandal broke through with a 401-foot solo shot off Rafael Montero in the eighth. The veteran backstop experienced a dramatic decline in power last season with just five homers in 376 plate appearances, so this was a promising start to the campaign. Grandal struggled in 2022, but it's worth remembering that he hit at least 22 long balls each campaign (aside from the shortened 2020 season) from 2016 to 2021.
Oscar Colás delivered a pinch-hit single on Thursday in his major league debut against the Astros
Colás came off the White Sox' bench to deliver a 109-mph single off righty reliever Héctor Neris in his first big league at-bat. The 24-year-old outfielder figures to make an impact this season, especially if he is able to continually handle MLB pitchers. He just missed a potential go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in his next at-bat.
Marlins' Yuli Gurriel: To be used as bench bat Marlins manager Skip Schumaker indicated Wednesday that Gurriel will primarily be used as a bat off the bench, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reported. Schumaker did say that he feels comfortable deploying Gurriel against both righties and lefties but also went on to confirm that Garrett Cooper will remain the team's primary first baseman. Gurriel must prove that he is capable of playing regularly after a 2022 season where he slashed just .242/.288/.360 across 584 regular-season plate appearances.
Rangers' Adolis García: Stars in CF García started in center field and went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 11-7 win over Philadelphia. The Rangers need to adjust to center fielder Leody Taveras (oblique) being on the injured list to start the season, and García will be one option in center. Bubba Thompson, who came off the bench later to play center, will also be in the mix. When Thompson starts, García is expected to be in right field.
Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel: Part of Opening Day lineup Gurriel started in left field and went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers on Opening Day. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo deployed right-handed hitters Gurriel and Kyle Lewis (as DH) against Dodgers lefty Julio Urias, which meant one of the Diamondbacks' left-handed hitting outfielders would be on the bench. It was Alek Thomas. The speculation was that Arizona's all-lefty outfield would remain intact as the primary starters whether against lefties or righties, but that may not be the case. Right-hander Dustin May takes the hill Friday, so Lovullo will likely adjust to include Thomas in the outfield.
Miguel Vargas started at second base and batted seventh on Opening Day for the Dodgers
Vargas is one of the most intriguing hitting prospects in the National League and has an opportunity to do a ton of damage this season following a loaded middle of the order in Los Angeles. On Thursday he made his 2023 MLB debut, going 0-for-2 with two walks, a run and a strikeout.
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