The individual awards and the best offensively and defensively for the 2024 Cuban championship were announced this Wednesday
- Ray Otero-Alonso
- Jul 18, 2024
- 3 min read
On Wednesday, July 17, the National Baseball Commission revealed the individual awards for the recently concluded season of the 63rd National Baseball Series. This announcement comes as fans eagerly participate in the 2024 postseason.
During the announcement, the top offensive, defensive, and all-around players were recognized, along with individual honors given to the standout performers in the preliminary phase of the Cuban championship.
Matanzas outfielder José Amaury Noroña and Ciego de Ávila pitcher Ediel Ponce were honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year, respectively, during the announcement at a press conference held at the Adolfo Luque Hall in the Latin American stadium in Havana. Noroña was awarded the Most Valuable Player in a Cuban season for the first time.
Noroña is now the second player from Matanzas to receive the Most Valuable Player award, following center fielder José "Pepito" Estrada's win in the 1996-1997 season of the 36th National Series. Additionally, Ediel Ponce secures Ciego de Ávila's second best rookie award in a Cuban season, following Eliécer Griñán's award in the 2016-2017 campaign of the 56th National Series.
José A. Noroña clinched his title through an outstanding season, guiding his team to the postseason despite challenges in the regular season. He smashed 19 home runs and topped the RBI chart with 79, boasting an impressive offensive performance of .351 / .489 / .625. Additionally, he scored 139 runs and showcased his full offensive prowess by stealing 17 bases.
Ediel Ponce, a right-handed pitcher who had just turned 18, performed exceptionally well in the Cuban championship. Despite the offensive nature of the tournament, Ponce stood out with a remarkable 2.15 ERA in 13 starts, covering a total of 71.0 innings. His opponents struggled to hit against him, managing only a .221 batting average and hitting just three home runs. Ponce finished the campaign with an impressive 8-2 record, including a notable stretch of 32 1/3 scoreless innings. He was a key player for the Ciego de Ávila team, which had a pitching staff that averaged 4.79 runs per game.
Two experienced Cuban pitchers received awards in the tournament. Santiago de Cuba's Danny Betancourt was recognized as the best right-hander, while Leandro Martínez from Granma was named the best left-hander. Betancourt had an impressive season with a 6-1 record and a 2.60 ERA in 79 2/3 innings, making 15 starts. Despite Santiago de Cuba being a favorite for the championship, they were defeated by Industriales in the quarterfinals after three initial victories. On the other hand, Leandro achieved a 6-2 record with a K:BB ratio of 49:12 in 14 starts and 81 1/3 innings, maintaining a 3.65 ERA with Granma.
The accolades presented encompassed the Silver Bat titles for the top offensive performers in the competition, as well as the Golden Gloves honors for those showcasing exceptional defensive skills. In this particular event, seasoned player Alfredo Despaigne was recognized as the premier designated hitter of the championship. This recognition came as a result of his outstanding performance, where he led the tournament with 20 home runs, batted in 59 runners, drew 76 walks, and achieved an impressive offensive stat line of .378/.575/.744.
Awards of the Cuban season 2024/63 National Series
Most Valuable Player (Martín Dihigo Award): José A. Noroña, Matanzas
Rookie of the Year (Yadier Pedroso Award): Ediel Ponce, Ciego de Ávila
Top Right-handed Pitcher (José A. Huelga Award): Danny Betancourt, Santiago de Cuba
Top Left-handed Pitcher (Santiago "Changa" Mederos Award): Leandro Martínez, Granma
Silver Bats/63 National Series (2024)
C: Yosvani Alarcón, Las Tunas
1B: William Saavedra, Pinar del Río
2B: Jeison Martínez, Mayabeque
3B: Osvaldo Abreu, Granma
SS: Roberto Baldoquín, Las Tunas
OF: Yoelquis Guibert, Santiago de Cuba
OF: José A. Noroña, Matanzas
OF: Over L. Cremet, Guantánamo
Designated Hitter: Alfredo Despaigne, Granma
Utility: Yudier Rondón, Las Tunas
Gold Gloves/63 National Series (2024)
C: Lázaro H. Ponce, Mayabeque
1B: José A. Jiménez, Artemisa
2B: Alexis M. Varona, Sancti Spíritus
3B: Euclides E. Pérez, Santiago de Cuba
SS: Adriel L. Hechavarría, Holguín
OF: Alexander Jiménez, Ciego de Ávila
OF: Yoasán Guillén, Mayabeque
OF: Carlos de la Tejera, Artemisa
P: Andy Vargas, Industriales
All-Around Team/63 National Series (2024)
C: Oscar W. Valdés, Industriales
1B: Alexei Ramírez, Pinar del Río
2B: Jeison Martínez, Mayabeque
3B: Osvaldo Abreu, Granma
SS: Roberto Baldoquín, Las Tunas
LF: Dennis Laza, Mayabeque
CF: Yoelquis Guibert, Santiago de Cuba
RF: José A. Noroña, Matanzas
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