MLB 2025 | Chapman secures second save; Cionel struggles; Vargas contributes an RBI...and more
- BaseballdeCuba
- Apr 5
- 6 min read
Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources
Aroldis Chapman secured a save with two outs in a four-run lead game against the Cardinals on Friday.
The Red Sox led 13-6 entering the ninth inning Friday, but Chapman was called in after Cooper Criswell allowed three runs. Chapman walked the first batter, loading the bases, but then induced a double play to finish the game. This marked the second save of the year for Boston’s main closer. The veteran has pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in 2025, with one hit allowed, two strikeouts and securing two saves and a win in the process.
Jorge Soler struck out four times on Friday.
Jorge Soler struck out four times on Friday during the Angels' 8-6 defeat to the Guardians. This marked Soler's first four-strikeout game of the season, which is not promising for the team that acquired him on October 31, 2024 via trade with the Atlanta Braves. As the designated hitter, he went 1-for-5. Soler has struck out 1,080 times in 1,019 games throughout his MLB career, so expectations should be tempered for a player known primarily for his power, having hit 191 home runs in his career.
Yoán Moncada's thumb problem has deteriorated.
Yoán Moncada was taken out of Friday's game against Cleveland because of irritation in his right thumb, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. In the Angels' 8-6 loss to the Guardians, he went 1-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout, and a run. Moncada had previously missed about two weeks at the end of spring training due to issues with the same thumb, and it appears the injury resurfaced during Friday's game. It's uncertain whether this recurrence of thumb trouble is serious enough for him to be placed on the injured list, but the Angels might choose to be cautious this time.
Randy Arozarena went hitless on Friday.
Randy Arozarena's inconsistent 2025 season persisted with a hitless performance in the Mariners' 10-9 loss to the Giants in 11 innings. Arozarena went 0-for-5, with one RBI, one walk, and three strikeouts. He is once again encountering the same challenges as in 2024, with only four hits—including a multi-hit game—in eight games. In 2025, Arozarena has struck out in six of his eight games, resulting in a concerning 75.0% strikeout rate. He also has two home runs.
Luis Robert did not get a hit on Friday.
Luis Robert Jr. did not get a hit on Friday during the White Sox's 7-4 defeat against the Tigers. Robert ended the game 0-for-4, with one walk and three strikeouts. The Cuban is anticipated to bounce back to his 2023 performance levels, where he set career highs by playing 145 games, hitting 36 doubles, 38 home runs, and achieving 80 RBIs, following a disappointing 2024 season where he participated in just 100 games, hitting 14 home runs and recording 35 RBIs.
Dairon Blanco gets an injection.
According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Dairon Blanco received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Friday. Blanco will refrain from any activity for the next 3 to 5 days, after which the Royals' medical team will reassess his condition. This effectively rules out the chance of a minimum-length IL stint for the 31-year-old outfielder. A clearer timeline for his return might be established once he is permitted to resume baseball activities.
Miguel Vargas contributed an RBI on Friday.
Miguel Vargas went 1-for-5 with an RBI on Friday during the White Sox's 7-4 defeat against the Tigers. Vargas played third base and was the leadoff hitter. He also struck out once. Expectations are high for the 25-year-old, who no longer holds the "promising" label after missing significant opportunities during his short time with the Dodgers before moving to the White Sox. This season is critical for the Havana native, as he is currently 5-for-26 (.192) with 3 RBI.
Yulieski Gurriel went hitless.
The 40-year-old veteran went without a hit in three at-bats during his third start of 2025 and also struck out once. Gurriel joined the San Diego Padres on a minor league deal in February, received an invitation to the major league camp and was added to the Padres' Opening Day roster following an impressive spring training. So far this season, he's 1-for-11 with one RBI over four games. As he seeks to remain active after a successful stint with the Houston Astros, 2025 will be a pivotal year, potentially marking his final season at the MLB level.
Yariel Rodríguez pitched an scoreless inning in relief.
In a 5-0 defeat to the Mets, right-hander Yariel Rodríguez pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up no hits and one walk, though he didn't record any strikeouts. The Camagüey native, who lost his role in the starting rotation after a disappointing 2024 season with 21 starts, a 1-8 record, and a 4.47 ERA, failed to impress Toronto as a starter. He now needs to prove himself in this new role in 2025 to potentially return to the rotation in the future.
Adolis García went hitless on Friday.
In the 5-2 victory against the Rays, Adolis García went 0-for-3 and struck out once. The strong Cuban hitter has only managed five hits in 2025, but each hit has been an extra-base hit, with three doubles and two home runs. This performance reflects Texas's expectations for the Cuban player following a "poor" 2024 season, during which Adolis recorded career lows in home runs (25) and RBIs (85) after becoming a regular in MLB.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a hit against the Nationals.
In a 6-4 victory against the Nationals, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit safely for the third game in a row, going 1-for-4. Although Gurriel Jr. has had a slow start this season in terms of batting average, his power appears to be on the rise, aiming to surpass his 2024 stats of 18 home runs and 75 RBIs. He has already hit two home runs and driven in six RBIs in the first eight games of the year. Arizona has strong hopes of making it back to the postseason after missing the 2024 playoffs, and Gurriel is a crucial part of the lineup now that he's the team's dependable left fielder.
Andy Pagés went hitless on Friday.
In a 3-2 loss to the Phillies, the Dodgers' first of 2025, Andy Pagés went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout, playing center field and batting ninth in the lineup. At 24 years old, Pagés aims to secure a spot as a regular player in the 2025 Dodgers starting lineup, though his offensive performance needs considerable enhancement. Fortunately, Pagés has been given chances early in 2025, participating in all nine games for the team, despite only getting hits in three of them. The Cuban player has gone four games in a row without a hit and is currently 3-for-27 with no home runs or RBIs this year.
Cionel Pérez has a tough outing this Friday.
Cionel Pérez had his worst relief outing of 2025 this Friday in the Orioles' 8-2 loss to the Royals. With the game close 3-2 - Kansas City winning - in the bottom of the eighth inning, Cionel came in for a disastrous performance. He hit M.J. Meléndez, issued an intentional walk, and allowed three hits, including consecutive doubles by Mark Canha and Maikel García, plus a bases-loaded hit to the right field line by Vinnie Pasquantino that cleared the bases when the throw went to second base. It was a relief performance to forget, completing an inning of five earned runs with one strikeout. Many are concerned about the situation of the Cuban reliever, who now has a 19.64 ERA in four outings in 2025. The Cuban hasn't been effective since late 2024, posting a 9.26 ERA in 11 2/3 innings since September 1, with 17 hits, 12 earned runs, 10 walks, 8 strikeouts, a .333 batting average, and a 6.15 xFIP in his last 14 outings.
Yandy Díaz has achieved another game with at least one hit.
Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Rays' 5-2 defeat against the Rangers. Serving as the leadoff batter and designated hitter, Díaz is striving for a successful 2025 season after facing challenges adapting to a new stadium as a hitter. Despite his current slash line of .167/.188/.388, Díaz has shown consistency by recording at least one hit in five of his seven games this season.
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