MLB 2025 | Yandy launches sixth homer; Ibáñez drives two; Yariel shines in relief; Cano with second loss; Ibáñez two RBIs game; Pagés extends hitting streak to five games
BaseballdeCuba- May 9
- 5 min read
Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources.
Yandy Díaz hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning on Thursday night, but the Rays suffered a tough loss to the Phillies.
Yandy Díaz added crucial insurance for the Rays with his 362-foot (103.0 mph exit velocity) three-run homer off Tanner Banks, expanding their lead from 2-1 to 5-1. This was his only hit in five at-bats during the game. This season, the 33-year-old first baseman has a batting line of .255/.307/.430, with six home runs and 20 RBIs. Yandy currently boasts a .174 ISO over 163 plate appearances, which would be the second-highest of his career.
Andy Ibáñez hit a single, a double, and brought in two runs on Thursday as the Tigers dominated the Rockies in the first game of their doubleheader.
The 32-year-old player, known for his skill against left-handed pitchers, delivered by hitting a run-scoring double off Kyle Freeland to initiate the scoring in the first inning. He further contributed with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, increasing the Tigers' lead to 5-0. This season, his stats are .259/.339/.407, with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
Yariel Rodríguez dazzles in relief Thursday.
Yariel Rodríguez secured his fourth hold of the season during Thursday's victory over the Angels, conceding just one hit and striking out five across two scoreless innings. The 28-year-old right-hander efficiently used only 29 pitches (20 strikes) to achieve six outs, providing the Blue Jays' usual high-leverage pitchers some rest by covering the seventh and eighth innings. He might soon join that group himself, as Yariel has earned a hold in consecutive appearances, and in his last nine outings spanning 12.1 innings, he has maintained a 2.92 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 15:5 K:BB ratio.
Yennier Cano took another loss.
Yennier Cano suffered his second loss of the year following the Orioles' 5-2 defeat to the Twins on Thursday. Cano gave up two runs on two walks and struck out one in 1/3 of an inning. His walks were costly, allowing two of the three decisive runs in the 8th inning. Cano began the inning by walking Harrison Bader, who then stole second base. After striking out Christian Vázquez, Cano walked Byron Buxton. He was taken out afterward, but Gregory Soto allowed a double to center field by Brooks Lee, bringing both runners home. Cano's ERA is now 3.00, but over his last seven games, he has allowed 4 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, resulting in a 7.71 ERA during that period.
Andy Pagés' hitting streak continues.
In a 5-3 defeat against the D-backs on Thursday, Andy Pagés went 1-for-4, recording one RBI and two strikeouts. On April 5, Pagés was batting .100/.270/.133 and was in a 3-for-30 slump over his last 10 games. However, in recent weeks, he has turned things around and, prior to today's game, is hitting .397 with a .683 slugging percentage over his last 15 games. During this period, he has hit 4 home runs and has 11 RBIs, and with his hit on Thursday, he is on a 5-game hitting streak.
Luis Robert Jr. had a single on Thursday.
In a 10-0 defeat by the Royals on Thursday, Luis Robert Jr. managed a 1-for-4 performance with two strikeouts for the White Sox. Robert is facing challenges this season, posting a .192/.301/.336 slash line for a White Sox team that has started 10-28 following a historically poor 2024 season, where they ended 41-121. Despite this, Luis Robert is tied for the Major League lead in steals with 15, and trade rumors are persisting, expected to intensify as the July 31st deadline approaches.
Adolis García hitless on Thursday.
Adolis García went hitless in three at-bats, drawing one walk, during a 5-0 defeat against the Red Sox on Thursday. Recently, he has improved his performance at the plate, achieving six hits in 22 at-bats, including one home run and five RBIs over his last seven games. His OPS is currently .690 over 143 plate appearances.
Edgar Quero recorded one hit.
Edgar Quero had one hit in three at-bats and drew a walk during Thursday's 10-0 defeat against the Royals. In his rookie season, Quero has an OPS of .742, but the power he displayed in the Minor Leagues, where he hit 45 home runs and 79 doubles, is yet to be seen.
Raisel Iglesias with tough outing on Thursday.
Raisel Iglesias faced challenges during the Braves' 5-4 win in 11 innings against the Reds on Thursday. The veteran entered the game with the score tied and ended up surrendering another two-run homer, putting the Braves in a difficult position. Iglesias aimed to protect a one-run deficit but gave up three hits, including a two-run homer by Rece Hinds, which increased the Reds' lead to 4-2. He finished the inning with one strikeout. Concerns are growing about Iglesias on an Atlanta roster that requires improved performance and a dependable closer to compete against the Phillies and Mets in the NL East, especially since the Cuban closer has already allowed two more home runs this year than he did in the all 2024.
Jorge Soler records one hit.
Jorge Soler recorded one hit in four at-bats during the Angels' 8-5 defeat against the Blue Jays. In his previous game, Soler had driven in three runs, and he now has accumulated eight doubles, six home runs, and nine walks, with a batting line of .231/.292/.431 in 2025.
Miguel Vargas had no hits on Thursday.
On Thursday, Miguel Vargas went 0-for-3 in a 10-0 loss to the Royals, striking out once. Recently, Vargas has made adjustments and transformed his hitting, posting a .340/.426/.509 slash line with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs over his last 15 games. Additionally, he has reduced his strikeouts to just seven in that period. At least for now his strikeout rate of 13.1% is significantly lower than his career rate of 21.7%.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded one hit.
In a 5-3 win over the Dodgers, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had one hit in four at-bats, striking out twice. The 31-year-old outfielder has now hit six home runs and is batting .213/.240/.404 with 20 RBIs over 146 plate appearances.
Yoán Moncada struck out three times on Thursday.
In a game against the Blue Jays on Thursday, which ended in an 8-5 defeat, Yoán Moncada had a tough outing, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. This marked the Cuban third baseman's poorest performance since rejoining the majors on June 6. Since his return, he has gone 3-for-11, hitting two home runs, driving in four runs, and striking out four times.
Astros manager Joe Espada informed reporters that they "hope" to have Yordan Álvarez return within the next "week or so."
Joe Espada mentioned that the muscle strain in Yordan's right hand is an issue he's encountered previously. It's beneficial that the Astros addressed it promptly. Allowing it to heal with some time off will help get the real Yordan back soon. Although Yordan is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday, a return later in the week appears to be a more realistic expectation.
Ernesto Martínez Jr. resumed playing at Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, achieving 1-for-4 at bat.
Ernesto Martínez Jr. was sidelined for 2 1/2 weeks due to a thumb injury he suffered during a slide last month. The 25-year-old currently has a batting line of .300/.383/.471 for Nashville and could potentially fill a role at first base or as a designated hitter for the Brewers if a spot becomes available.
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