The president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, Mr. Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, announced on Wednesday that manager Armando Johnson will continue to lead the Cuban national team in the upcoming third edition of the Premier12 world tournament. Furthermore, a group of 60 players has been chosen to start their preparation for the upcoming event this coming Monday. Johnson, who led the Cuban team to the semifinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, is determined to improve Cuba's performance after finishing in 10th place in the 2019 edition of the tournament. It is important to mention that Cuba's highest placement in this competition was sixth in the first edition held in 2015. Johnson has been leading the island's main team for three years in a row. He was first appointed in 2022 to oversee Cuba in the IV edition of the Caribbean Cup, where the team finished in 2nd place. In 2023, he managed the team in the V World Baseball Classic (4th place), the V Caribbean Cup (1st place), as well as the baseball tournaments in the Central American and Caribbean Games (2nd place) and the Pan American Games (6th place). The Premier12 tournament, organized by the WBSC (World Baseball and Softball Confederation), is scheduled to take place from November 9 to 24 across Mexico (Group A), Chinese Taipei (Group B), and Japan (Final Round or Super Round). It will showcase the top 12 teams globally, as per the WBSC world ranking. In Group B, Cuba (ranked 8th) will be joined by Japan (ranked 1st), South Korea (ranked 4th), Chinese Taipei (ranked 5th), the Dominican Republic (ranked 9th), and Australia (ranked 11th). Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round, making it a tough challenge for the Cubans. They will aim to secure a spot by competing fiercely against at least two Asian teams, Japan and South Korea, and the Caribbean team from the Dominican Republic, whose performance level is still unknown for this Premier12 edition. As per the preliminary selection announcement, the standout name on the list is MLB third baseman Yoán Moncada, currently playing for the Chicago White Sox in the American League. Moncada, who was part of the Cuban roster in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, has been sidelined for most of the 2024 season due to injury. Additionally, he would need approval from his team to confirm his participation in the upcoming tournament. While Moncada's potential inclusion would be a positive development for the national team, the likelihood of him being able to compete is slim, given the need for permission from his major league team. Among the players who have been announced, the pitchers Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez are notable for their presence. They are both foreign stars from the Japanese Professional League (NPB) and are expected to take on the roles of the team's top starting pitcher and closer, respectively. The extensive list that has been unveiled includes many individuals who have experience in MLB, Japan, and different Caribbean leagues. The participation of these experienced players may significantly impact the island team's performance in the tournament. Yet, it is presently difficult to predict which players will make the cut for the final roster. Before the tournament, the Cuban team has a preparation schedule with the following dates marked as the most crucial: September 16 : Commencement of team preparations at the Latinoamericano stadium October 16 : Departure to South Korea, scheduled to arrive on October 18 October 20-26 : Conducting training sessions October 28-30 : Engaging in three preparation matches against teams from the minor leagues of the Korean Professional League (KBO) November 3 : Arrival in Taichung City, Chinese Taipei November 4 : Designated training day November 5-7 : Competing in three preparation games against teams from the Chinese Taipei Industrial League November 8 : Arrival in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei November 10-11 : Participation in exhibition matches November 12 : Designated training day November 13 : Commencement of the Premier12 tournament The journey towards the Premier12 in 2024 has just commenced for the Cuban team, with anticipated player cuts from the preselected squad in the upcoming two months. In summary, here is the list of 60 players that was unveiled yesterday. CUBAN PRE ROSTER FOR THE 2024 PREMIER12   PITCHERS (25) : Yoan López, Ronald Bolaños, Yusnel Padrón, Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez, Frank A. Álvarez, Darío Sarduy, Yoenni Yera,  Yankiel Mauri, Raymond Figueredo, Frank Luis Medina, Geonel Gutiérrez, Maykel Taylor, Erlys Casanova, Yosiel Serrano, Osdany Rodríguez, Enyer Fernández, Andy Vargas, Danny Betancourt, Frank Herrera, Randy Cueto, Branlis Rodríguez, Pavel Hernández, Leodán Reyes, and Randy Martínez.   CATCHERS (6) : Andrys Pérez, Andy Cosme, Yosvani Alarcón, Jorge Y. Rojas, Ariel Martínez, and Rafael Viñales.  INFIELDERS (15) : Erisbel Arruebarrena, Alexei Ramírez, Yoan Moncada, Yadil Mujica, Christian Rodríguez, Roberto Baldoquín, Ernesto Martínez, Jean Walter Valdés, William Saavedra, Yuliesky Remón, Tailon Sánchez, Osvaldo Abreu, Luis V. Mateo, Guillermo Avilés, and Dayán García.  OUTFIELDERS (14) : Denis Peña, José A. Noroña, Over L. Cremet, Francisco Martínez, Yasser Julio González, Ariel Hechavarría, Eduardo Blanco, Yadir Drake, Carlos de la Tejera, Roel Santos, Raiko Santos, Alfredo Despaigne, Lázaro Armenteros, and Yoelkis Guibert.  The Premier12 tournaments were first held in 2015, with South Korea emerging victorious by defeating Japan and the USA in the semi-final and final matches, respectively. This victory marked the inaugural event, where Cuba reached the quarter-final round, securing a 6th place finish, their best result in these tournaments. Fast forward four years, Japan sought revenge and clinched the title for the first time by defeating the reigning champions in the final. Mexico contended for the bronze against Team USA, with all three medal-winning teams securing direct qualification to the baseball tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. SCHEDULE FOR THE PREMIER12 QUALIFYING Round

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Jorge Soler had a strong performance on Wednesday against the Nationals, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and an RBI. In this game, Jorge Soler proved to be a challenge for the Nationals' pitchers, reaching base three times and hitting all three of his balls in play solidly. He, along with Michael Harris, provided the Braves with a promising opportunity for a rally in the sixth inning, hitting back-to-back doubles before Marcell Ozuna's strikeout ended the game. Despite a hot streak following his trade to Atlanta, Soler's performance has declined recently, with a .604 OPS in his last 15 games. Adolis García ends hitless streak. In Wednesday's 14-4 defeat against Arizona, Adolis García went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. His single in the fourth inning marked the end of a 17-at-bat hitless streak, bringing his batting average to just .189 in 10 games this month. Despite having 22 home runs and 11 stolen bases, García's offensive impact in 2024 has been diminished. Previously averaging 99 RBI and a .777 OPS over three seasons, he now has 74 RBI and a .672 OPS with 16 games remaining in the season. RHP Daysbel Hernández has been called up by the Braves from Triple-A Gwinnett. Due to the Braves having a bullpen filled with pitchers who cannot be sent down, Daysbel Hernández has had few chances, but he has performed well in the majors this season, allowing just two runs — one earned — in 11 innings. This call-up may be short-lived, as the Braves will have to include a fifth starter in the roster next week. Miguel Vargas returned to the lineup on Wednesday. After missing Tuesday's game in the series against Cleveland, Miguel Vargas was back in action. He played as the sixth batter and took on the third base position. Despite having a day off, his performance at the plate continued to struggle, reinforcing the Dodgers' decision to trade him. On Wednesday, Vargas went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts and managed to get one RBI. This hitless game extended his streak to 0-for-15 in the last 6 games, resulting in a September slash line of just .105/.150/.105 with the sole RBI from Wednesday's game. The Cuban player's overall stats for 2024 now stand at .163/.258/.277 with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs. Yandy Díaz was not in the lineup on Wednesday. Yandy Díaz received a standard day off on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Barring any undisclosed injuries, he is expected to be back in action on Thursday as the team begins a new series against the Cleveland Guardians. Yandy has been performing well in September, hitting 11-for-32 (.344) with two home runs, a double, and six RBI in eight games. The D-backs are optimistic about the quick return of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. After departing the game on September 1 due to tightness in his left calf, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been practicing with the Trajekt pitching machine and is set to engage in some running activities on Thursday. Gurriel was placed on the 10-day injured list with his calf strain, with the designation being retroactive to September 2. Fortunately, both he and manager Torey Lovullo have indicated that the injury is not severe, and they are hopeful that Gurriel will be back in action after a minimal stint on the IL. As the team aims for another postseason berth in September, they are eager to have the 30-year-old back as their regular left fielder. Gurriel, who was named an All-Star for the first time in 2023, his debut season with the team, is currently batting .274/.316/.428 with 17 home runs, 70 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 125 games. Yordan Alvarez with another multi-hit game. In Wednesday's defeat against Oakland, Yordan Alvarez recorded a 2-for-4 performance, scoring a run and striking out once. This marked his fifth multi-hit game of September and his 51st of the season. Through 136 games, the left-handed power hitter boasts a .313/.397/.569 slash line with 32 home runs, 81 runs, 80 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, 63 walks, and just 80 strikeouts. Yulieski Gurriel was absent from the Royals lineup on Wednesday. Yulieski Gurriel took a break on Wednesday, in his team's 4-3 loss to the Yankees in extra innings. Yulieski has been given a unique opportunity in 2024 with the Royals, who are postseason contenders in the American League. He experienced a decline after winning a Gold Glove Award and leading the AL in batting in 2021, but he might have the chance to participate in another postseason and add to his ring collection, which includes two World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 with the Astros.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources In a 6-4 victory over the Marlins, Aroldis Chapman secured a save, conceding one run on three hits in one inning. Despite giving up a run on three hits in the ninth inning, Aroldis Chapman managed to secure the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win against the Marlins. He recorded two strikeouts. Chapman faced some challenges in the ninth, allowing the Marlins to narrow the lead to 6-4 with three singles and a fly out. Nevertheless, he successfully preserved the lead, earning his eighth save of the season. Chapman's performance has been inconsistent this season, but he has successfully converted three out of four save opportunities in the past seven days. Although Chapman has allowed at least one run in his last three appearances, totaling six runs over 2.2 innings, he also managed to convert saves in consecutive games. During his outing Chapman reached 90 strikeouts (91 to end the game) in the season in 56 innings. Tuesday's save marked his 329th in his career, putting him on par with Francisco Cordero in 17th place on the All-Time list. If he secures two more saves, he will surpass John Wetteland and move into 16th place, just 10 saves away from Rollie Fingers (341) in 15th place. The southpaw currently holds a 4.18 ERA for the season with a 1.45 WHIP and a 91:39 K:BB ratio across 56 innings. With David Bednar and Dennis Santana delivering scoreless innings before him, Chapman may need to improve his performance to retain his role as the team's closer. Yordan Alvarez had a multi-hit game and stole a base on Tuesday. In Tuesday's 4-3 extra-innings loss to the Athletics, Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-6 with a stolen base. Alvarez has recorded multiple hits in three of the last four games, although he has also failed to get a hit in three out of eight games in September. This steal marked his seventh of the year, surpassing his previous single-season high of one. He boasts an impressive .312/.396/.570 slash line with 32 home runs, 80 RBI, 80 runs scored, and 31 doubles in 135 games. Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano were ineffective on Tuesday. In a 5-3 victory for Baltimore against Boston, the Cuban relief pitchers Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano struggled in their appearances. Cionel gave up one earned run on one hit and one walk in 1 1/3 innings, recording one strikeout with 20 pitches, 15 of which were strikes. On the other hand, Cano entered the game and allowed one run on one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts in just 2/3 of an inning. Cano took over from Cionel with a runner on base but couldn't prevent him from scoring. Despite Cionel having a 3.97 ERA in 54 games this season with a 42:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio, he has been ineffective in his last seven outings, conceding 3 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings with a 5:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Cano, on the other hand, has a 4-2 record and five saves this year, striking out 59 in 54 2/3 innings with a 2.80 ERA. Both pitchers are crucial from the bullpen for Baltimore as they prepare for the 2024 postseason. Dairon Blanco makes an impact by stealing two bases. Although Dairon Blanco did not begin the game in the Royals' 5-0 win over the Yankees on Tuesday, he entered as a pinch runner in the 8th inning. Despite not getting a chance to bat, he crossed the plate once and successfully swiped two bases, increasing his season total to 28. While Blanco may not see much action in the field for the Royals, he maximizes his exceptional speed when tasked with running the bases. Jorge Soler doubles and scores in win. On Tuesday, Jorge Soler contributed to the team's 12-0 win against the Nationals by going 1-for-4 with his 27th double of the season, one RBI, one walk, two runs scored, and two strikeouts. He's now slashing .229/.327/.410 with 17 homers, 54 RBI, 72 runs scored, 27 doubles and a stolen base over 125 contests this season. Baseball activities have been started by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. According to MLB.com, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has taken swings off a Trajekt pitching machine and is set to start running on Thursday. Gurriel was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactively from Sept. 2. Back then, both he and manager Torey Lovullo were hopeful that the outfielder would make a comeback after only being absent for the required minimum period. Miguel Vargas did not play in Tuesday's lineup. Despite starting the previous three games, Miguel Vargas was absent from the lineup against the Guardians on Tuesday. Bryan Ramos replaced him at third base and batted eighth for the White Sox in that game. On Tuesday, Oscar Colás smashed his third home run in four games while playing for Triple-A Charlotte. There is a chance that Colás could be called up to the White Sox roster later on. Even though he has a batting line of .247/.337/.410 for Charlotte this season, he seems to be a more appealing choice compared to Dominic Fletcher, who has been filling in as the White Sox's primary right fielder despite his .215/.261/.277 slash line.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources In a game against the Guardians on Monday, Bryan Ramos contributed a two-run homer in a loss for the White Sox. Bryan Ramos made a 1-for-3 performance on Monday, hitting a two-run home run in a defeat against the Guardians. Ramos stood out as a positive note in Chicago's loss, hitting a two-run home run to left field in the eighth inning for his inaugural major-league homer. Prior to this game, the 22-year-old had struggled against major-league pitching, with a batting average of just .196 and one walk in 48 plate appearances. Ramos has displayed power potential, hitting as many as 22 home runs in a single minor-league season (2022), and could see increased playing time as the White Sox focus on the future. Despite his current .204/.216/.306 slash line over 49 at-bats, Ramos is highly regarded as one of the top prospects in the Chicago system. Even though he posted a modest .263/.339/.416 line in 64 Triple-A games this season, Ramos is considered a top prospect by FanGraphs and deserves an opportunity to start regularly as the season progresses. Aroldis Chapman secured the save against the Marlins on Monday, allowing one run in the ninth inning. Despite giving up one run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in one inning, Aroldis Chapman managed to navigate through a challenging ninth inning with the tying and go-ahead runs on base before ultimately getting out of the jam. The 36-year-old pitcher, who had a rough outing just days before surrendering four runs, has now accumulated three saves in his last five appearances after taking over as the team's main closer from David Bednar. His seventh save of the season marked his 328th career save, surpassing Fernando Rodney's record of 327 and moving him up to 18th place on the all-time list. While currently serving as the Pirates' closer, Chapman's performance has shown signs of decline, evident in his elevated 4.09 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Although he maintains a high strikeout rate at 14.6 K/9, his inconsistency in crucial moments may raise some concerns. Yandy Díaz had another game with multiple hits. In Monday's 2-1 defeat against the Phillies, Yandy Díaz recorded a 2-for-4 performance. Despite his struggles at the plate and a .202/.272/.240 slash line in April, Yandy's consistent impressive displays continue. His two hits on Monday marked his 42nd multi-hit game of the season, elevating his average to .281 (146 for 520) for the year. Currently, he ranks 8th in all of baseball with a hit percentage of 72.5%. Yasmani Grandal started on Monday, but likely to see reduced playing time. Yasmani Grandal started as a catcher and batted seventh in Monday's matchup against the Marlins. Despite being part of the starting lineup on Monday, Grandal is anticipated to take on a backup role at catcher after the Pirates brought back their top catcher Joey Bart from the injured list on Friday. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the game. Grandal has been hitting .333/.556/.444 in the last seven games, but his season OPS of .668 falls short of Bart's .848. Yulieski Gurriel did not get any hits on Monday. On Monday, the Royals suffered a 10-4 defeat against the Yankees, and Yulieski Gurriel had a hitless performance at the plate. Although the experienced Cuban first baseman made a strong defensive play at first base in the fifth inning on an Austin Well grounder, he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and left a runner in scoring position stranded. Later in the game, he was substituted by pinch hitter M.J. Meléndez. Gurriel's current slash line now reads .250/.286/.333, including a double and four RBIs in the 5 games he has played for the Royals since joining the team on September 1. According to White Sox GM Chris Getz, Yoán Moncada will remain with Triple-A Charlotte for the time being. Moncada, who has been sidelined since April due to an adductor strain, has played eight games for Charlotte, primarily at third base, and has posted a 9-for-26 record with a home run and three doubles. The White Sox's current plan is to have Moncada continue his rehabilitation until he feels ready to return. Given that Moncada is approaching free agency after the season, the White Sox seem to be waiting out the remainder of his contract. Miguel Vargas is expected to continue receiving regular playing time at third base for the rest of the season. However, Vargas has been struggling with a .114 batting average since joining the team in the trade to the South Side.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yariel Rodríguez gave up only one run during his five-inning start against the Braves on Sunday. In what was his closest performance to a quality start in a month, Yariel Rodríguez recorded six strikeouts. The lone flaw in his otherwise impressive outing was a solo home run by Jared Kelenic in the second inning. Aside from that setback, the Cuban right-handed pitcher excelled, breezing through five innings with just 73 pitches while striking out six batters. The 27-year-old rookie has experienced a mix of successes and setbacks this season, holding a 4.42 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 75:34 K:BB ratio over 73.1 innings. Yariel aims to maintain his momentum in his upcoming start, currently set for the next weekend against the Cardinals. Raisel Iglesias secured a victory by allowing just one unearned run in the 10th and 11th innings on Sunday, helping the Braves to a narrow 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. In the 10th inning, Iglesias left the automatic runner stranded, preserving a 2-2 tie. Although he couldn't repeat the feat in the 11th, the Braves (thanks to the Blue Jays' defensive lapse) rallied with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Iglesias continues to impress, boasting five wins in addition to his 31 saves. Having pitched five times in the last seven days, he is likely to have Monday off, potentially paving the way for Pierce Johnson to secure a save opportunity. Luis Robert Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI in a 7-2 win over the Red Sox on Sunday. Luis Robert Jr. showcased his offensive skills on Sunday by delivering a great performance, going 3-for-4 with an RBI in a decisive 7-2 victory against the Red Sox. This display comes as a welcome sight for fans and analysts alike, especially considering his struggles throughout the season. Despite enduring a challenging year with a season-long slash line of .223/.275/.395, Robert Jr.'s recent stellar performance serves as a glimmer of hope and a testament to his resilience and determination. In Sunday's 10-4 victory over the Cardinals, Randy Arozarena smashed a two-run home run. Randy Arozarena had a productive performance in the win against the Cardinals on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored. He started the game with a single and a run in the first inning, followed by a two-run homer in the second. Despite hitting only one home run in his initial 25 games with the Mariners, he has now hit three homers in his last 12 matches. During this recent period, he has recorded 14 hits in 47 at-bats (.298) with nine RBIs. Overall this season, Arozarena has a .221/.332/.396 slash line with 47 extra-base hits, including 19 homers, and has scored 71 runs in 137 games and 485 at-bats. Víctor Mederos has been optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake by the Angels. Hans Crouse has been chosen by the Angels as a bullpen option, leading to Mederos being sent to Triple-A. Mederos, a 23-year-old who was brought up from High-A Tri City in mid-August, struggled in his initial big-league appearances, giving up seven earned runs in 5.1 innings. He will now test his skills at the Triple-A level. There is a small possibility that he could return to Los Angeles before the season concludes.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Adolis García hit a three-run home run while going 1-for-3 against the Angels on Thursday. In Thursday's victory over the Angels, Adolis García went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk. He smashed a three-run homer off Jack Kochanowicz in the first inning and drew a walk in his next at-bat, extending his streak of games with at least one hit, one walk, and three RBI. This marked his 22nd home run of the season and his first since August 18 against the Twins. In September, he holds a .263 batting average (5-for-19) with four extra-base hits, eight RBI, and a run scored. Despite a tough season hitting .222 with a high strikeout rate of 26.8%, Adolis continues to shine in terms of power, boasting 22 homers and 72 RBI in 135 games. Aroldis Chapman secured his sixth save of the season by getting two outs in the ninth inning against the Nationals on Thursday. On Thursday, Aroldis Chapman earned the save by striking out one batter in 2/3 innings against the Nationals. He came into the game in the ninth inning with a five-run lead and the tying run at the plate. Chapman efficiently closed out the game in just six pitches without allowing any additional runs. This marked his second successful save opportunity since taking over the closer role for the Pirates from the struggling David Bednar. Apart from a rough outing against the Cubs last week where he gave up three runs, Chapman has been solid in his last 13 appearances, recording 21 strikeouts with a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, one win, two saves, and seven holds over 13 innings. While Chapman's performance this season has been a mix of positives and negatives, highlighted by a respectable 3.38 ERA, 22 holds, and a high strikeout rate of 14.3 K/9, his WHIP of 1.31 and four blown saves may have led to some frustration among fans and analysts. Yasmani Grandal extends hitting streak to eight games. Yasmani Grandal had a 1-for-2 performance with two walks, an RBI, and a run in Thursday's game against the Nationals. Since Joey Bart's injury, Grandal has been the starting catcher in seven out of 12 games and has been performing well for the past two weeks. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 9-for-24 with two home runs, four RBIs, and six runs scored. Yandy had another game with multiple hits. Despite the Rays losing 4-3 to the Twins on Thursday, Yandy Díaz stood out with another multi-hit performance. He went 2-for-4 with a RBI and two strikeouts in the game. This marked his second consecutive game with two hits and his 40th multi-hit game of the season as a seasoned infielder. Furthermore, he notched his 27th double of the year. Although this year has posed challenges for the 33-year-old player, he has been in excellent form over his last 30 games, hitting .300 (33-for-110) with four home runs, 13 RBIs, and 12 runs. On the season, his slash line stands at .278/.335/.411 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs. Randy Arozarena got a breather Thursday. Randy Arozarena was absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Oakland. It was the second day off for Arozarena since he was acquired by the Mariners via trade in late July. On Wednesday, Arozarena broke out of a 1-for-14 slump by going 2-for-4 in the game. This slump started after he had five hits in two games on August 28 and August 30. Despite this recent dip in form, Arozarena has been more productive overall since joining the Seattle Mariners than he was with the Rays. In his time with the Mariners, he has achieved a .238 batting average, a .753 OPS, 11 extra-base hits, 12 RBIs, 18 walks, and 24 runs. Additionally, he has reached base nine more times through hit-by-pitches in 34 games with the Mariners.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yandy Díaz had an impressive performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs, two RBIs, and a walk in the Rays' 7-1 victory over the Orioles on Saturday. He initiated the scoring in the first inning by hitting a solo home run off Zach Eflin. In the third, he got a base hit and in the seventh, he drew a walk and later scored on a single by Logan Driscoll. Yandy reached base for the fourth time in the eighth, contributing with an RBI single. During his last 10 games, he has had five multi-hit games, hitting four home runs and driving in eight runs. The 33-year-old first baseman currently holds a .279/.337/.417 slash line with 14 home runs and 64 RBIs in 567 plate appearances. In the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Aroldis Chapman suffered a loss and blew a save against the Nationals by giving up four runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Aroldis Chapman (5-5) took the loss and blew the save against the Nationals in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, surrendering four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters in two-thirds of an inning. Chapman came in during the ninth inning after Pittsburgh scored twice to take a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. The experienced pitcher managed to retire two of the first three batters he faced, but then allowed consecutive singles and doubles, resulting in Washington scoring four runs. Prior to this game, Chapman had successfully converted both save opportunities since David Bednar was removed from the closer role. However, this performance on Saturday might open up opportunities for Dennis Santana, who secured a save on Monday and has had 12 consecutive scoreless appearances, to receive more opportunities in the ninth inning. In relief against the Cubs on Saturday, Néstor Cortés threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings to secure a victory. Stepping in for starter Clarke Schmidt at Wrigley Field, Néstor Cortés delivered three more shutout innings after finishing the sixth inning. This marked Cortes' first relief appearance of the season, during which he didn't concede a hit and threw 33 of his 48 pitches for strikes. The left-handed pitcher, aged 29, stayed on the mound to defend a two-run lead in the final inning, needing only nine more pitches to close out against Chicago's lineup. He ended the game with three strikeouts and just one runner allowed. His performance had been inconsistent in his previous five outings, with three quality-start victories and 11 earned runs surrendered in the other two appearances. With a 3.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 147:33 K:BB ratio over 163.1 innings this season, Cortés is likely to start against the Red Sox next week. Yordan Alvarez records three hits during Saturday's game. Yordan Alvarez continued his impressive performance by securing three hits in an 11-5 win against the D-backs on Saturday. Following his two home runs and six RBIs on Friday, Yordan went 3-for-5 on Saturday, including his 31st double of the season and his 80th RBI. Yordan's exceptional season continues, with a batting line of .372/.458/.743, along with 12 home runs, 20 runs scored, and 25 RBIs in his last 30 games. Overall, he maintains a .313/.398/.576 slash line with 31 doubles, two triples, and 32 home runs in 573 plate appearances. Miguel Vargas returned to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox. It was encouraging to have Vargas back at third base and batting eighth after missing two games due to an on-field collision earlier in the week that resulted in a left eye abrasion. Despite his return, he is still struggling at the plate and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the White Sox's 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. Since moving to Chicago, Vargas has had opportunities in the starting lineup but is currently batting just .116/.230/.186 with a homer and 4 RBI across 27 games withy the team. He will need to make significant improvements if he hopes to secure a regular spot on the roster in 2025. Andy Pagés was chosen to play in left field for the Dodgers on Friday. In Saturday's victory over Cleveland, Andy Pagés hit a two-run homer, going 1-for-3. In his first at-bat, Pagés hit a two-out, two-run homer, increasing the Dodgers' lead to six runs. This marked his first home run since returning from the minors and his 10th of the season. Pagés has also recorded hits and RBIs in consecutive games. The 23-year-old rookie has a 2-for-8 record since his recall on Sept. 1, with a season batting line of .246/.303/.393 in 402 plate appearances for the Dodgers. Jorge Soler took a break on Saturday. He was not included in Atlanta's lineup for the game against the Blue Jays. Despite getting a hit in each of his last three games, Soler watched from the bench as Ramon Laureano played in right field. Yuli Gurriel was absent from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins. It was a positive sign to see Yulieski Gurriel return to Kansas City's lineup on Friday night after missing two games due to a minor hamstring strain. However, he was rested on Saturday, allowing Salvador Pérez to play first base. The 40-year-old is expected to continue as the regular first baseman for the Royals in the remaining games of the season. Gurriel has had a strong start in his first four games with the Royals, going 3-for-9 with two RBI and a run scored.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Alvarez smashed two three-run home runs on Friday to help secure the victory against the Diamondbacks. Yordan Alvarez had an outstanding performance in Friday's 8-0 victory over the Diamondbacks, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI. He hit a three-run homer off Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth inning and followed it up with another home run off Jordan Montgomery in the next frame. This marked Alvarez's seventh multi-homer game of the season, equaling the Astros' franchise record set by Chris Carter in 2014. Over the past nine games, Alvarez has showcased his power with three multi-homer games while maintaining a .382 batting average (13-for-34) with seven home runs and 12 RBI. In his last 25 games, he has hit .362 with 12 home runs and 13 walks, raising his season OPS to .970. With 32 home runs, 79 RBIs, 89 runs scored, and six stolen bases on the season, the 27-year-old Alvarez is now hitting .310 with a .406 wOBA and 170 wRC+, establishing himself as one of the premier hitters in the league. Raisel Iglesias secured the save against the Blue Jays on Friday by allowing only two hits and striking out three batters during his single inning of work. In Friday's 3-1 victory against Toronto, Raisel Iglesias secured the save by delivering a scoreless inning with three strikeouts, despite allowing two hits. Since June 16th, he has not conceded any earned runs and has maintained a striking 37.6% strikeout rate. Iglesias has now extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 21 games, even after dealing with a two-out double by Joey Loperfido in a 15-pitch performance. Throughout this streak, Iglesias has recorded 31 strikeouts and only three walks in 24 1/3 innings, while also notching 10 saves. This season, the 34-year-old has showcased exceptional form with a 1.22 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, and a remarkable 61:10 K:BB ratio in 59 innings, converting 31 of 34 save opportunities. Undoubtedly, Iglesias is currently experiencing one of the finest seasons of his career and is establishing himself as one of the most dominant relievers in Major League Baseball. Jorge Soler had a productive performance on Friday against the Blue Jays, going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. It was the first game for Soler with the Braves where he did not bat first or second since joining the team. This change was justified by the need to place Whit Merrifield in the second spot in the lineup. Despite this adjustment, Soler hit his double with an impressive exit velocity of 110.5 MPH. Since the All-Star break, he has maintained an .835 OPS, showing a significant improvement compared to his performance in the first half of the season. Randy Arozarena managed one RBI on Friday. In a 6-1 victory against the Cardinals, Randy Arozarena went 1-for-4 and contributed with an RBI. He kickstarted the scoring in the fifth inning by hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Victor Robles home. Arozarena's sole hit of the game came in the third inning when he singled. This season has presented challenges for the Cuban/Mexican outfielder, as he holds a .218/.332/.389 slash line with 18 home runs, 50 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 144:63. However, he has shown improvement lately, hitting .250 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs in his last 15 games. Yuli Gurriel returned to play on Friday. Yulieski Gurriel took the field at first base and batted seventh in the lineup against the Twins. The Royals secured a 5-0 victory, with Gurriel making a 1-for-3 performance and contributing an RBI. He also had one strikeout. Gurriel exited Monday's game due to hamstring tightness but came off the bench on Wednesday. In his four games with the Royals, Gurriel has a batting average of .333 with one run and two RBI. Luis Robert Jr. was in center field on Friday and got one hit out of four at-bats against the Red Sox. On Friday at Fenway Park, Luis Robert Jr., the outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, played in center field and batted second against the Boston Red Sox. He had a 1-for-4 performance with a strikeout during the game. Robert returned to the lineup after a day off on Thursday, following his early exit from Wednesday's game due to tightness in his right hamstring. Despite hitting 14 home runs and stealing 21 bases in 323 at-bats, Robert has a .220 batting average, .274 on-base percentage, and only 34 RBIs. Since the All-Star break, he has struggled with a .204/.233/.305 slash line, hitting just three home runs, 11 RBIs, walking five times, and striking out 62 times in 40 games. Miguel Vargas remained absent on Friday. Vargas was not included in Friday's lineup against the Red Sox. He has been sidelined since leaving Tuesday's game due to a right eye abrasion sustained in a field collision.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Raisel Iglesias earned a save against the Rockies on Wednesday, striking out two batters and walking one in a single inning of work. During his one scoreless inning, Raisel Iglesias secured the save with a three-run lead in the ninth inning, facing minimal trouble as he issued only one walk with two outs and retired the side on just 15 pitches. This marked his 30th save of the season, the fifth time he has achieved this milestone in his career. With a chance to match or surpass his career-best 34 saves, set in both 2019 and 2021, Iglesias continues to be a reliable veteran closer. Yandy Díaz contributed significantly to the Rays' 9-4 victory over the Twins on Wednesday by going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run. In the win against the Twins, Yandy Díaz went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run homer on Wednesday. His home run off Louie Varland in the fourth inning marked the culmination of an eight-run outburst by the Rays' offense. This was Yandy's 13th home run this season, the third in his last six games, as he heats up towards the end of the season. While it has been a challenging year for the 33-year-old slugger, he is finishing strong, hitting .333 (18-for-54) with three home runs in his last 15 games. Since the start of August, in 28 games, the veteran has a slash line of .294/.362/.461 with 12 RBI and 12 runs. Adolis García's key Performance against the Yankees. In the victory over the Yankees, Adolis García contributed significantly by going 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI. His double was particularly important as it helped extend the Rangers' lead, even though he did not score himself. Despite a batting average of just .222 this season, Adolis remains a valuable player in the lineup due to his ability to drive in runs (69 RBI) and hit for power (21 HRs). Although his strikeout rate is high at 0.269, and his wOBA stands at .292, indicating limited offensive productivity overall, his performance continues to be crucial for the team. Luis Robert Jr. departed Wednesday's match against the Orioles due to tightness in his hamstring. The injury to Robert Jr.'s hamstring occurred as he was running down the line during a double play. The outfielder is expected to undergo further assessment, but it is unlikely that he will return to the lineup in the upcoming days, particularly since the White Sox have no playoff aspirations in 2024. In the game, he managed to go 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI. Prior to the injury, Robert had been struggling, going 4-for-31 after an impressive .381/.385/.548 performance in the early part of August. Despite his disappointing season, the 27-year-old is anticipated to bounce back in 2025. Bryan Ramos has been called up by the White Sox from Triple-A Charlotte. Bryan Ramos was briefly with the White Sox last week. It remains to be seen if this call-up will be extended, especially with the potential return of Yoán Moncada. The White Sox's handling of their 22-year-old prospect has raised some questions. Ramos last played in a major-league game in late May, but he may get a chance to start at third base if Miguel Vargas remains sidelined. Miguel Vargas was absent from the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles due to a cut above his left eye. Following his early departure from Tuesday's game, Vargas continued to be sidelined for Wednesday's match. Lenyn Sosa took over the third base position in Vargas' absence. Yulieski Gurriel was out of the Royals' starting lineup Wednesday. Yuli Gurriel was absent from the Royals' starting lineup on Wednesday against the Guardians due to tightness in his right hamstring, which forced him to exit Monday's game in the eighth inning. Despite not being placed on the injured list at this stage of the season following his recent addition to the team, he has been sidelined as a precaution to prevent aggravating the issue. On Wednesday, he made an appearance as a pinch hitter but went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Since joining the Royals on September 1, Gurriel has recorded 2 hits in 6 at-bats, including a double and an RBI.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Raisel Iglesias threw a scoreless ninth inning to seal a 3-0 victory against the Rockies. Raisel Iglesias struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 29th save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Rockies. The right-hander fired seven of 12 pitches for strikes as he collected his first save since Aug. 22. Iglesias has gone 26 straight appearances without giving up an earned run, posting a minuscule 0.30 WHIP in 30 1/3 innings over that stretch with a 36:3 K:BB. With 29 saves and a 1.26 ERA this year, he has been exceptional. His next successful conversion will give Iglesias his fifth career 30-save campaign. On Tuesday against the A’s, Randy Arozarena struck out three times and was caught stealing after drawing a walk. Randy Arozarena had the option to continue running on the 3-2 pitch instead of getting caught stealing, potentially enabling him to get on base. Nevertheless, he made a mistake by assuming that the pitch was a ball and not running during the attempted steal, resulting in a called third strike on a checked swing and being tagged out while still standing. Arozarena has effectively stolen bases in 20 out of 29 attempts this season. While there are 36 players with more steals than him, only six have been caught stealing more times. Miguel Vargas of the White Sox leaves the game following a collision. Miguel Vargas was taken out of Tuesday's match against the Orioles because of an abrasion on his right eye. The injury occurred when Vargas collided with Andrew Benintendi while both were trying to catch a pop fly in the second inning of Tuesday's game. The lack of professionalism between the outfielder and third baseman during the play highlighted an unnecessary situation at the Major League level. Vargas did not get a turn at bat during the game. If Vargas is unable to play in Wednesday's game, Lenyn Sosa is likely to start at third base. Néstor Cortés is set for a relief appearance. In his upcoming outing, left-handed pitcher Néstor Cortés will be used in a relief role following either right-hander Luis Gil on Friday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field or Clarke Schmidt on Saturday. Following this, Cortés will return to the starting rotation next week to take on the Boston Red Sox, a division rival. As both Gil and Schmidt are rejoining the rotation this weekend, the Yankees seem to be transitioning to a six-man starting rotation for the remainder of the season. After a challenging performance against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, where he gave up five earned runs on nine hits (including one home run), with one walk and only two strikeouts, Cortés, who is 29 years old, could benefit from a brief respite. Since the All-Star break, the left-hander has recorded an ERA above 5.00 with 34 strikeouts and 10 walks in 43 2/3 innings over eight starts. Adolis García struck out three times against the Yankees. Adolis García's struggles persist as he drew a walk but failed to get a hit (0-for-3) in a 7-4 win over the Yankees. He is currently experiencing a rough patch in the season, batting only .193/.220/.333 with one home run, six RBI, and a 22:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last 15 games. This year has been a letdown for the Cuban player, as he holds an overall slash line of .222/.282/.393 with 21 home runs and 66 RBIs. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been placed on the injured list. According to Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com, the Diamondbacks made the decision to place Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday due to a left calf strain. Gurriel sustained the injury on Sunday, causing him to miss Monday's game. He is now expected to be out for at least the next 10 days as he recovers from the strain. In Gurriel's absence, Pavin Smith took his place in Monday's game and may continue to do so while the 30-year-old remains sidelined. Yandy Díaz was not in the lineup on Tuesday. Despite being the designated hitter in the previous two games, the 33-year-old did not participate in Tuesday's match against the Twins. He sat out Saturday's game due to a knee issue, and although there have been no updates on his condition, it seems that his knee is still not completely healed.

Following their victory at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup, Japan now holds every WBSC Baseball World Cup title except for the U-12 event, as well as the Premier12, Olympic Games, and World Baseball Classic championships. Japan (4,899 points) continues to lead the WBSC/KONAMI Men's Baseball World Ranking following their victory in Colombia, where they were named world champions at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. Currently, Japan hosts the WBSC U-15, U-18, and U-23 Baseball World Cups, along with the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, the World Baseball Classic, the Olympic gold medal, and the Premier12 title. Mexico remains in the second position with 4,063 points, while Chinese Taipei, the new addition to the podium, has climbed two spots to secure third place with 3,706 points. Although Cuba did not participate in the U-15 World Cup, it remains in eighth place. The points calculation considers outcomes from international tournaments held within a four-year span, such as the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup, WBSC U-12 and U-18 Baseball World Cup European qualification tournaments, U-15 Pan Am qualifier, European Championship Qualifiers, and select friendly series. Notably, points from the WBSC Premier12 2019 have been excluded from the calculation. The USA dropped to fourth place, Venezuela climbed to fifth, South Korea slipped to sixth by two spots, and the Netherlands maintained its position as the top European country in seventh place. In the top 12 rankings, Puerto Rico and Colombia have shown the most significant advancement, each moving up two positions to claim the 10th and 11th spots, respectively. Nicaragua advanced three positions to rank as the 17th program globally, marking the most significant progress among the top 25 programs worldwide. The upcoming WBSC/KONAMI Men's Baseball World Ranking update is scheduled to be released following the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup tournament taking place from 6-15 September. Cuba's non-participation in the U-23 World Cup might affect its ranking. However, the next important ranking update for Cuba is anticipated following the Premier12 tournament scheduled for November 10-24 this year.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yuli Gurriel had to leave the game due to an injury. According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Yulieski Gurriel was removed from Monday's game against the Guardians in the eighth inning because of tightness in his right hamstring. Gurriel hit a double in his third at-bat but experienced discomfort while running to second base. The 40-year-old had been managing a hamstring strain during his time at Triple-A Gwinnett before being acquired by the Royals, and unfortunately, he has now worsened the injury in just his second game with the new team. Interim manager Paul Hoover mentioned post-game that it is classified as a "super mild strain" and suggested that Gurriel' status is day-to-day. Aroldis Chapman secures his 22nd hold. Aroldis Chapman threw a scoreless inning with a walk to secure his 22nd hold of the season in the Pirates' 5-3 victory over the Cubs on Monday. Chapman came into the game in the 8th inning and continued his impressive performance following a setback against the Cubs on Aug 28, during which he conceded three earned runs. Since the All-Star break, he has only given up four earned runs in 18 innings while maintaining a 28:5 K:BB ratio. Despite the White Sox's 13-3 loss to the Orioles, Miguel Vargas's stolen base was a lone positive highlight. While going 1-for-3, Vargas managed to steal a base. However, his performance this season remains lackluster, with a batting average of just .177 in 55 games and minimal power output. His impact is limited, as his on-base abilities do not make up for his struggles at the plate, highlighted by a low .259 wOBA. Adolis García had a hitless game. Adolis García went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts while batting cleanup for the Rangers against the Yankees on Monday. Although Adolis had a productive stretch last month, his recent performance has been underwhelming, with a 9-for-49 record, a 19/1 K/BB ratio, and no runs scored in his last 13 games. The Rangers may consider moving him down in the lineup once again, given his struggles, but there are no clear alternatives for the cleanup position at the moment. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sat out of the lineup. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was absent from Monday's game against the Dodgers. This absence was expected as he left Sunday's game due to a left calf injury. It is possible that Gurriel may not be able to play for some time, but more information on his condition will be available after he undergoes imaging on his calf. The Cuban right-handed hitter has provided some power (17 home runs) and speed (seven steals) this season, maintaining a solid .274 batting average (133-for-486). Luis Robert Jr. was not included in the lineup. For Monday's game in Baltimore, Luis Robert Jr. was not part of the lineup. It appears that Robert was taking a regular day off after playing in the last seven games. This year, Robert was expected to provide an appealing power and speed mix, but he only has 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 2024. Also, he has only managed a .219 batting average (68-for-311) and is playing for the least successful team in baseball.