Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Aroldis Chapman's save clinches victory against the Mariners. On Monday, Aroldis Chapman secured a save against the Mariners by striking out all three batters he faced in one inning. He easily maintained a two-run lead in the ninth inning, delivering 10 of his 13 pitches as strikes and striking out Randy Arozarena, Dylan Moore, and Donovan Solano consecutively. The seasoned left-hander is on a 10-game streak without allowing an earned run, boasting an impressive 14:1 K:BB ratio while giving up just two hits over nine innings during this period. Chapman has successfully closed 13 of 14 save opportunities this season, and his 42:9 K:BB ratio, 1.50 ERA, and 0.83 WHIP over 30 innings position him as one of the league's most dependable closers this year. With his save, Chapman moved into sole possession of 14th place on the MLB all-time saves list, surpassing Randy Myers. Who will be his next target? The 358 saves of right-hander Troy Percival.   Yandy Díaz secures a hit on Monday. Yandy Díaz returned to Tampa's lineup on Monday after missing Sunday's game due to discomfort after sliding into home plate on Saturday. Previously, he had started in seven consecutive games. On Monday Yandy went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout in the 7-1 win over the Orioles. In Yandy's last 20 games, consistency has been present. At the end of May, he had a slash line of .241/.286/.405; now he has a healthier .265/.315/.433. In his last 15 games, Yandy has slashed .371/.429/.597 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. For the year, he has 10 home runs and 41 RBIs, second among Cuban players in both categories. Andy Pagés plays a role in 6-3 victory. Andy Pagés played a key role in the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday, hitting a double and scoring twice. Pagés was also hit by a pitch from Dylan Cease, which almost sparked a brawl when Pagés showed his frustration with what he perceived as an "intentional" throw. Pagés added a double and two runs to his season stats, marking his 11th double of the year and bringing his total hits to 73 in 69 games. This season, Pagés holds a .282 batting average with 46 RBIs and 13 home runs, leading Cuban players in these categories. He has a .305 batting average and a .921 OPS, with five doubles and four home runs in his last 15 games. Jorge Soler recorded one hit. Jorge Soler went 1-for-5 with a strikeout against the Yankees in a 1-0 win in 11th innings. With only eight homers and 26 RBIs this year, Soler is batting .210/.285/.356 in one of his worst seasons. The slash line he has been on over the last seven games is .143/.217/.143 with just three hits, no home runs, two RBIs and 11 strikeouts.   Randy Arozarena hitless on Monday. Randy Arozarena went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Mariners' 2-0 loss to the Red Sox on Monday. This month, Arozarena had back-to-back three-hit games on June 7 and 8, but he has gone 2-for-14 with three strikeouts in his last five games. What's good? While he hasn't collected many hits, he has been able to get on base five times and steal three bases during that stretch. By the way, he has been successful in all 14 attempts this year at stealing. No hits for José Iglesias in Padres loss. On Monday, José Iglesias was not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Dodgers. He came into the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning with a runner on base, but struck out, ending the threat. He was DH for the remainder of the game. He went 0-for-2 and lowered his slash line to .233/.296/.271 this year, a very different season than when he led the Mets to the postseason in 2024. Luis Robert Jr. experiencing thumb soreness on a day-to-day basis. Luis Robert Jr. is dealing with thumb soreness and is uncertain to take the field for the Chicago White Sox. Luis Robert Jr. has been dealing with several injuries this season, including issues with his head and knee. Most recently, he has been listed day-to-day due to thumb soreness. His status remains uncertain for the upcoming game against the St. Louis Cardinals. For the year, Luis Robert has played 64 games and is just hitting a mere .194. He has 6 home runs and 28 RBIs. Over the last five games, he improved his performance with a .368 average and a 1.060 OPS. Yordan Álvarez has not started hitting again. According to an official team medical report, Yordan Álvarez is still not cleared to resume hitting as he recovers from a minor fracture in his right hand. This suggests he likely won't return until after next month's All-Star break. Although there is no official timeline for his return, this recent update indicates he is still several weeks away.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Andy Pagés brings in four runs in victory. Andy Pagés hit a decisive three-run home run in the fifth inning on Sunday night, leading the Dodgers to a 5-4 win over the Giants. Pagés initially put the Dodgers on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and his three-run homer in the fifth secured the game-winning run. Before this, he hadn't homered in nine games, hitting .219 (7-for-32) with three RBIs during that stretch. After the Giants scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning, Pagés responded with his decisive 399-foot (101.6 mph exit velocity) three-run homer off Ryan Walker in the fifth, giving the Dodgers a lead they maintained. Pagés ended the game 1-for-3 with a strikeout, but that single hit was crucial. He has performed well for the Dodgers this season, with a .281/.320/.480 slash line, 13 home runs, and 46 RBIs. Pagés is at the forefront of all Cuban players in home runs and RBIs this year. Randy Arozarena steals two bases. Randy Arozarena drew three walks, was hit by a pitch, stole two bases, and scored two runs in Sunday's 6-0 victory over the Guardians. Although Arozarena did not record an official at-bat in the game, he managed to reach base in all four of his plate appearances. Recently, he's been successful both at the plate and with his discipline, going 11-for-31 (.355) with eight walks, four extra-base hits, two hit-by-pitches, and five steals over his last nine games. While his 27.6 percent strikeout rate remains somewhat high, the outfielder is making an impact when he gets on base. He has accumulated 14 steals, eight home runs, 28 RBIs, 29 runs scored, and a .750 OPS over 68 games. On Sunday afternoon, Miguel Vargas hit his 10th home run of the season, providing the sole offense for the White Sox in their loss to the Rangers. In the sixth inning, Miguel Vargas put the White Sox on the scoreboard by hitting a first-pitch fastball from Jacob Webb for a 380-foot solo home run with an exit velocity of 99.9 mph. This would be their only offensive contribution in the game. The 25-year-old infielder ended the afternoon 1-for-4 with a strikeout and currently has a batting line of .242/.322/.440 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs for the season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get any hits. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. didn't get any hits in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Padres. He went 0-for-3, which brought his season batting average down to .256/.302/.433. So far, he has hit 10 home runs and has 38 RBIs. Over his last 15 games, Gurriel has been hitting well, achieving a .296/.367/.426 line with two home runs and seven RBIs. Yennier Cano delivers another scoreless performance. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Sunday's 11-2 victory over the Angels, allowing one walk and striking out one. Cano has had an impressive beginning to June, with five scoreless appearances to date. Recently, the right-hander has been a dependable setup pitcher for the Orioles, recording a 1.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and an 11:1 K:BB ratio over his last eight innings (10 games). However, as long as closer Felix Bautista is healthy, Cano is unlikely to receive many save opportunities. José Iglesias went hitless. José Iglesias played third base and hit seventh in Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. With Manny Machado taking a break from the infield to act as the team's designated hitter, Iglesias made his second start in eight games. In the 8-2 win over the D-backs, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. In his first season with San Diego, Iglesias is batting .236/.300/.276 over 142 plate appearances, and playing time might continue to be limited for the veteran as long as the Padres have their main infielders available. Yoán Moncada is exclusively hitting off a tee. According to MLB.com, Yoán Moncada is currently restricted to taking swings off a tee from the left side and did not accompany the Angels on their current road trip. The switch hitter was placed on the injured list on June 2 because of inflammation in his right knee and has not yet been able to resume swinging from the right side of the plate. Moncada might be evaluated again when the Angels return home on Friday. While his return timeline is still unclear, the earliest he might be activated appears to be in late June. Luis Robert Jr. was removed from Sunday's lineup due to soreness in his right thumb. Luis Robert Jr. has not been traded. The 27-year-old outfielder was sitting out Sunday’s series finale, likely as a precaution, with veteran Michael A. Taylor taking his place in center field. He joined the game later as a pinch hitter. After Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Rangers, Robert mentioned that his thumb "feels good" and that he "should be good to go" for Tuesday's series opener against St. Louis. The outfielder has recorded at least one hit in each of his last five games, hitting .368 with a solo home run and four RBIs during that period. Yandy Díaz started on the bench for Sunday's game against the Mets. Yandy Díaz sat out during a scorching run where he's hitting .355 (22-for-62) with three home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 15 games. Over his last seven games, he's batting .433 (13-for-30). Adolis García records his 15th double of the season. Adolis García contributed to the Rangers' 2-1 victory over the White Sox on Sunday by going 1-for-3, hitting his 15th double of the season, drawing a walk, and scoring a run. García doubled in the second inning and later scored on Ezequiel Durán's double. Over his last seven games, he has been impressive, posting a .321/.375/.571 slash line with a home run, five runs scored, seven RBIs, and two stolen bases. The 32-year-old power hitter has a batting line of .227/.273/.391, with eight home runs, 22 runs scored, 34 RBIs, and seven stolen bases over 260 plate appearances. Néstor Cortés completed a successful bullpen session on Friday, throwing 30 pitches. This was the third bullpen session completed by the 30-year-old left-hander as he recovers from a left elbow flexor strain. He will go through the same routine this week, including a couple of up-downs, before being cleared to pitch against live hitters for the first time. He remains at least a month away from possibly being available to support the Brewers' rotation.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Adolis García hits a home run in victory. Adolis García went 1-for-4, hitting a three-run home run and scoring another run in Thursday's 16-3 victory over the Twins. His performance has improved since returning from a brief break during a slump. Thursday marked his first homer since May 24, and over the last eight games, he's hit 8-for-29 with three extra-base hits and six RBIs. A promising development is that his last three hits have all been for extra bases. On Thursday, Miguel Vargas went 3-for-5, hitting two doubles and a triple, drawing a walk, scoring two runs, and stealing a base, as the White Sox lost to the Astros in Houston. Miguel Vargas began the third inning with a double, stole third base, and scored the game's first run thanks to an RBI single by Edgar Quero. The 25-year-old infielder also started the fifth inning with a triple and scored on another RBI hit by Quero, then added a two-out double off Josh Hader in the ninth. With his three-hit performance, Vargas is now batting .242/.322/.433 with nine home runs, 30 RBI, and two stolen bases in 66 games, marking a solid all-around season. Edgar Quero recorded three hits in the defeat. In a close 4-3 defeat to the Astros, Edgar Quero recorded 3 hits and drove in 2 runs. In the latest matchup against the Astros, Quero's three hits increased his season total to 37 hits in 135 at-bats. He currently holds a batting average of .274 and an OPS of .665 for the season. Despite the White Sox's 4-3 loss to the Astros, Quero's two RBIs contributed to his season total of 16. Quero has been performing well recently, hitting .429 over the past five games. His recent performance is evident in his last 10 games, where he has a .303 average. As the season advances, Quero's consistency at the plate continues to be apparent. Néstor Cortés is pitching in another bullpen session. Néstor Cortés is scheduled for another bullpen session on Friday, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This will be his second session since being diagnosed with a left elbow flexor strain in early April. Although the recovery process for Cortés has been gradual, he is making strides and might soon be ready to pitch against hitters. Once he receives clearance to play in games, the experienced left-hander will need several rehab starts.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Aroldis Chapman secured the save on Wednesday against the Rays by striking out two batters in a flawless inning. Aroldis Chapman secured the save in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Rays by delivering a flawless ninth inning, striking out two batters. This marked his 12th save of the season, and he has now gone eight consecutive outings without allowing an earned run. The 37-year-old left-hander has also achieved at least one strikeout in his last 10 appearances. Importantly, he has significantly reduced his walks this season with the Red Sox, lowering his walk rate from 14% to 8%. Chapman currently boasts a 1.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 39:9 K:BB ratio over 28.1 innings this year. He has successfully converted 12 of his 13 save opportunities in 2025 as Boston's closer. With his save on Wednesday, Chapman tied Randy Myers with 347 career saves, placing him 14th historically. Yandy Díaz hit 2-for-4, including a two-run homer, in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox. Yandy Díaz’s home run was significant as it tied the game in the fifth inning and seemed to put Walker Buehler under pressure. Unfortunately, the Rays fell behind soon after and didn’t score again, but Yandy has been performing well lately. In this game, he had two hits that exceeded 103 mph, and he has an .853 OPS over his last 15 games. He has hit three home runs in his last 10 games, going 15-for-39 with eight RBIs and eight runs scored during that period. This streak has increased Yandy's ISO to .169 for the season, which would be the third-highest of his career. Yariel Rodríguez secures first save. Yariel Rodríguez secured the save in Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Cardinals, striking out one batter in a flawless ninth inning. With Jeff Hoffman unavailable due to pitching on consecutive days, Rodríguez was tasked with the save in the ninth and required only 10 pitches to seal the win. The 28-year-old has been a reliable force in the Blue Jays' bullpen this season, recording a 2.97 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 32:11 K:BB over 33.1 innings. Miguel Vargas and Luis Robert Jr. each had one hit. Miguel Vargas and Luis Robert Jr. both went 1-for-4 in Wednesday's 10-2 defeat against the Astros. Vargas contributed his 30th RBI of the season and struck out once, while Luis Robert also recorded a strikeout. Jorge Soler's two RBIs Lead Angels to Victory Over Athletics. Jorge Soler played a key role in the Los Angeles Angels' 6-5 victory over the Athletics, contributing a hit, 2 RBIs, and a run scored. Soler's performance was pivotal in the Angels' close win against the Athletics. This game was his 62nd appearance of the 2025 season, bringing his total to 26 RBIs. Over his last 10 games, Soler has batted .194 with one home run and five RBIs. Despite maintaining a .214 average for the season, his efforts continue to bolster the Angels' offense from the fourth spot in the lineup. Andy Pagés recorded a hit. On Wednesday, during the Dodgers' 5-2 victory over the Padres, Pagés went 1-for-4 with one strikeout. Following an impressive May, Pagés has had a slow start to June, posting a .240/.240/.280 slash line, with no home runs and one RBI. Adrián Morejón charged with loss. Adrián Morejon (3-3) recorded his third loss of the season against the Dodgers on Wednesday, giving up one run on one hit while retiring two batters in relief. He struck out Mookie Betts to begin the fifth inning but then allowed a single to Freddie Freeman. Freeman scored minutes later when Teoscar Hernández hit a home run off new reliever Jeremiah Estrada. Despite this, Morejón is having a strong season with a 2.08 ERA in June, a 1-1 record, and a SO:BB ratio of 7:2. Adolis García's hitting streak has ended. Adolis García's seven-game hitting streak ended on Wednesday during the Rangers' 6-2 loss to the Twins. In the game, Adolis went 0-for-4. Despite not getting a hit, it's encouraging that he's maintaining a .280 average (7-for-25) with three runs scored, three RBIs, and two stolen bases over his last seven games. Randy Arozarena and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get any hits. In the D-backs' 5-2 victory over the Mariners, both Randy Arozarena (Sea) and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (Ari) went 0-for-4. Arozarena has been performing exceptionally well lately, posting a .310/.375/.517 slash line over his last seven games, with a home run, two RBIs, and two stolen bases. Meanwhile, Gurriel is steadily enhancing his 2025 season, and despite his hitless game, he maintains a .316/.381/.456 slash line with two home runs and seven RBIs over his last 15 games.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had two hits in four at-bats, including a home run, and scored two runs in the game against the Mariners on Tuesday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-4, hitting a solo home run, stealing a base, and scoring a second run in Tuesday's 10-3 victory over the Mariners. He also made an incredible catch at the wall in left field to take an extra-base hit away from Cal Raleigh in the third inning. Gurriel has recorded hits in 15 of his last 16 games, achieving seven multi-hit performances during this period. His home run on Tuesday marked only his fourth extra-base hit in this 22-for-61 (.361) run. The outfielder's consistent hitting has improved his slash line to .258/.304/.446, with 10 homers, 37 RBI, four steals, 24 runs scored, 13 doubles, and a triple over 62 games. Although Gurriel started 2025 poorly, he has been recovering for most of the past month, bringing his stats closer to his career averages. Adolis García continues hitting streak in victory. Adolis García went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, a stolen base, and two runs scored in Tuesday's 16-4 victory over the Twins. Whatever he did during his mental break clearly paid off. He's hit in all seven games since his return, going 7-for-21 with three RBIs and two steals. Before his two extra-base hits on Tuesday, all his hits had been singles. He's been batting in the lower third of the order since coming back, but if his power returns, manager Bruce Bochy is likely to move Adolis to the middle of the order, where he usually belongs. Randy Arozarena hit a solo home run, going 1-for-4 in the game against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Randy Arozarena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 10-3 defeat against the Diamondbacks. Arozarena put the Mariners on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with his homer, marking his first since May 30 against the Twins. The outfielder has been impressive at the plate, hitting 9-for-19 (.474) over his last four games, including four extra-base hits and two stolen bases in that stretch. This season, he has a .232/.346/.401 slash line with eight home runs, 11 steals, 27 RBIs, and 26 runs scored over 64 games. Luis Robert Jr. breaks his home run drought. Luis Robert Jr. excelled in the game, hitting 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, leading the White Sox to a 4-2 win against the Astros on Tuesday. Luis Robert put the White Sox on the scoreboard in the second inning with a double that drove in a run. He then hit a solo home run off Lance McCullers Jr. to start the fourth inning. This was Robert's first home run since May 2. The 27-year-old outfielder now has six home runs and is hitting .184/.269/.304 with 25 runs scored and 21 steals in 237 plate appearances. He has shown minimal signs of improvement, going just 5-for-33 in his last 10 games. Edgar Quero drives in two runs. On Tuesday against the Astros, Edgar Quero went 1-for-4 and drove in two runs. Since May 31, Quero has been alternating starts regularly, most recently with Kyle Teel. Both players were in the lineup on Tuesday, with Quero serving as the designated hitter and Teel catching. Despite having fewer opportunities, Quero has managed to record RBIs in three straight games and has secured at least one hit in his last five appearances. Yennier Cano achieved three strikeouts. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless inning during the Orioles' 5-3 defeat against the Tigers. Cano delivered a flawless seventh inning, allowing just one hit while striking out the other three batters. After a tough May, where he recorded a 9.64 ERA (9.1 IP/10 ER), Cano is off to a strong start in June, having pitched three scoreless innings across four appearances with a 5:0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. On Tuesday, Miguel Vargas did not get any hits. Miguel Vargas did not get any hits on Tuesday during a 4-2 victory over the Astros and struck out three times. The Cuban infielder has been slowing down lately, with a slash line of .182/.308/.318, including one home run and three RBIs over his past seven games. He has accumulated 11 strikeouts in his last 15 games and 52 at-bats. This season, Vargas has recorded 9 home runs and 29 RBIs. Jorge Soler hitless against the A's. Jorge Soler returned to right field and hit fifth in the lineup on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium after missing two games due to a persistent groin problem. In the 2-1 victory, he went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. Soler is attempting to improve his performance after starting June with a 2-for-21 record, without any home runs or RBIs. Andy Pagés went hitless against the Padres. In an 11-1 loss to the Padres, Andy Pagés went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Despite this, Pagés is enjoying an outstanding season, hitting .285/.328/.483 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs. He is on track to surpass all his personal bests. Néstor Cortés is nearing the start of bullpen sessions. According to MLB.com, Brewers manager Pat Murphy stated on May 30 that Cortés is progressing well with playing catch on flat ground and may soon start bullpen sessions. Cortés was diagnosed with a left elbow flexor strain and placed on the injured list on April 6, leading to about a month of inactivity before he was allowed to begin playing catch. The Brewers appear to be advancing him through his throwing program cautiously, as he has not yet returned to the mound nearly a month after starting flat-ground throws. The veteran left-hander will need to complete multiple bullpen sessions and live batting practice before being cleared for a rehab assignment, so his return from the injured list is likely not expected until around the All-Star break. Yordan Álvarez has not started swinging a bat again. In late May, Yordan Álvarez was found to have a minor fracture in his right hand, which caused him discomfort when swinging a bat. The Astros are being cautious with their key middle-of-the-order player and won’t hurry his return to avoid any setbacks. Although there is no official return schedule, the Astros do not expect Álvarez to be back before July. Yoán Moncada placed on the 10-Day IL. Yoán Moncada of the Los Angeles Angels is on the 10-day injured list due to right knee inflammation and is expected to return in mid-June. Moncada has been out with right knee inflammation, with a comeback anticipated in mid-June. Earlier this season, Moncada also missed games for the same knee issue, indicating a recurring problem. The Angels have been without his presence at third base during this time. Before his injury, Moncada appeared in 30 games, achieving a slash line of .237/.336/.505 with six home runs and 19 RBIs. In his last 10 games, he recorded an OPS of .939, demonstrating his impact at the plate despite his current absence.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Yandy with multi hit game. In Sunday's victory against the Marlins, Yandy Díaz achieved a 3-for-4 performance, hitting a double, a home run, and driving in two runs. This year has been uneventful for Yandy, who is hitting .248/.297/.413 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs. Although the nine home runs are a positive, this marks only his third home run since May 9th, indicating a strong start to the season. On Sunday, Miguel Vargas went 1-for-3, hit a two-run home run, walked once, and recorded three RBIs against the Royals. Miguel Vargas hit his ninth home run of the season, launching a two-run homer off Michael Lorenzen in the first inning. This marked Vargas' first home run in June, following his seven home runs in May. He currently has a batting average of .237 with a .740 OPS and 29 RBIs for the year. Aroldis Chapman secures his 11th save of the 2025 season. On Sunday, Aroldis Chapman secured his easiest save of the season by getting the final out against the Yankees, maintaining a four-run lead. This occurred after Robert Stock allowed a couple of runs and put two more runners on base with two outs, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle. At that point, Red Sox manager Alex Cora called on Chapman to defuse the situation. The 37-year-old left-hander needed only three pitches to strike out Anthony Volpe, concluding the game. This season, Chapman boasts an impressive 1.71 ERA, along with a 35/9 K/BB ratio over 26 1/3 innings and 11 saves in his first 12 opportunities. His save on Sunday marked the 346th of his career, putting him just one short of tying Randy Myers for 14th place in history. On Sunday, Randy Arozarena had three hits in five at-bats, including two doubles, scored a run, and drove in an RBI, guiding the Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Angels in Los Angeles. Randy Arozarena initiated the scoring in the game by bringing Julio Rodríguez home with an RBI double against Tyler Anderson in the top of the first inning. He also sparked a rally in the fifth inning with a one-out single, stole second base, and scored on an RBI hit by Jorge Polanco. Following his three-hit performance, Arozarena is now slashing .228/.344/.386 with seven home runs, 26 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases (in 11 attempts) for the season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded one hit on Sunday. In Sunday's 4-2 defeat against the Reds, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded one hit in four at-bats and struck out once. Gurriel is enjoying a strong season and is anticipated to improve, posting a .321/.371/.411 line with a home run, 6 RBIs, and two stolen bases over his last 15 games. For the season, he is batting .249 (58-for-233) with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs. Luis Robert Jr. did not get any hits on Sunday. Edgar Quero with one RBI. On Sunday, Luis Robert Jr. did not get a hit during the White Sox's 7-5 defeat to the Royals. He contributed an RBI and had a strikeout. The Cuban outfielder, who is still the subject of trade rumors as the July 31 deadline approaches, is enduring a difficult 2025 season, with a slash line of just .177/.265/.281, 5 home runs, and 24 RBIs. Over his last three games, he is 2-for-10 with 3 RBIs and 5 strikeouts. In the same game, Edgar Quero came in as a pinch hitter late in the match and went 1-for-2, recording one RBI and one strikeout. At just 22 years old, Quero is splitting his duties behind the plate but remains one of the top prospects in his position. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless inning. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless inning on Sunday during the Orioles' 5-1 defeat against the A's. In the seventh inning, Cano faced the minimum number of batters, needing just 9 pitches, 6 of which were strikes. Despite his season being less than stellar, with a high 4.29 ERA over 21 innings, 10 holds, a 1-4 record, and two blown save opportunities, Cano remains a valuable setup man for the struggling Orioles. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker informed reporters on Friday that Raisel Iglesias will no longer serve as the primary closer. Brian Snitker chose not to identify a specific closer but mentioned that Iglesias will no longer be the primary choice. The 35-year-old veteran played a significant role in a major collapse against the Diamondbacks on Thursday when Atlanta lost a six-run lead in the final inning. He has struggled with a 6.75 ERA over 24 innings (25 appearances) this season, successfully converting only eight of 12 save opportunities. It will likely involve a combination of Iglesias, Dylan Lee, Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer, and Enyel De Los Santos for save chances. Jorge Soler was not included in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners. Jorge Soler missed Sunday's series finale due to a recurring groin problem that flared up during Saturday's game. The 33-year-old experienced slugger may not need to be placed on the injured list, but he will take additional time off to fully recover. Chris Taylor, a versatile utility player, will step in to play right field on Sunday afternoon.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Aroldis Chapman secured his 10th save on Saturday by finishing the Yankees' game with a flawless ninth inning. Aroldis Chapman secured a save against the Yankees on Saturday by striking out one batter in a flawless inning. Called in the ninth inning to maintain a three-run lead against the team he had played with for over six seasons, Chapman efficiently completed the task with just 11 pitches, delivering nine strikes and retiring the side in order, ending the game with a 102 mph sinker to retire Paul Goldschmidt. This marked Chapman’s fourth career save against his former team; he previously recorded one in 2012 with the Reds and two last year with the Pirates. On Saturday, he achieved two groundouts and a strikeout. Having thrown 19 pitches over six days, he’ll certainly be ready if needed again on Sunday. At 37, Chapman is experiencing a throwback season, boasting a 1.73 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 34:9 K:BB ratio over 26 innings. The fireballer is 10-for-11 in save opportunities and has allowed just one earned run in his last 10 appearances. Randy Arozarena records three hits and a steal in defeat. Randy Arozarena recorded three hits in five at-bats and stole a base during Saturday's 8-6 defeat to the Angels. This marked Arozarena's second multi-hit game in his last 11 appearances. Over that period, he has batted .167 (7-for-42) with a 3:16 walk-to-strikeout ratio, and only one of those hits was for extra bases. With Saturday's performance, Arozarena raised his batting average to .220. Additionally, he has a .712 OPS, 10 steals, seven home runs, 25 RBIs, and 24 runs scored in 61 games. Raisel Iglesias was not chosen for the save opportunity. Raisel Iglesias did not pitch on Saturday even though Atlanta had a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning against the Giants. Over the past month, Iglesias has struggled, giving up 11 earned runs in 10 innings. After blowing a save and taking a loss on Thursday, manager Brian Snitker indicated that Iglesias might not be Atlanta's primary closer moving forward, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Iglesias was unavailable to pitch on Friday and was then bypassed for a save opportunity on Saturday. Instead, Pierce Johnson was given the chance, but he allowed a two-run home run to Matt Chapman, blowing the save. Adolis García extends his hitting streak to five games. Adolis García recorded a hit in one of his four at-bats during Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Nationals. He also contributed an RBI and struck out twice. On the bright side, Adolis has now hit safely in five straight games following a multi-game "mental break" due to a slump at the start of the season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s hitting streak has officially concluded. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s hitting streak officially came to an end on Saturday. The game had been suspended in the sixth inning on Friday due to rain. He went 0-for-4 in a 4-3 loss to the Reds in 10 innings. In the doubleheader, Gurriel went 1-for-8 with one strikeout. During his 11-game hitting streak, he posted a .381/.438/.500 line with one home run and six RBIs. Edgar Quero with one single on Saturday. In Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Royals, Edgar Quero recorded a hit in three at-bats, driving in one run and striking out once. This marked his 11th RBI, the first since May 18. Over his last 15 games, he has a batting line of .222/.294/.289 with 2 RBIs. During his rookie season, Quero has posted an offensive line of .258/.340/.306, including 6 doubles, 8 runs scored, and 11 RBIs. Yandy Díaz went hitless on Saturday. Yandy Díaz did not get a hit on Saturday, as the team lost 11-10 to the Marlins in 10 innings. Yandy went 0-for-4, with a walk and one strikeout. This season has been inconsistent for Yandy, who has a .232/.273/.354 slash line over his last 20 games, including 2 home runs and 14 RBIs. In that period, he has recorded 6 multi-hit games. Luis Robert Jr. returned to center field and was hitting seventh in the lineup on Saturday against the Royals. The White Sox gave Robert a break on Tuesday and Wednesday for mental rest, and he missed Thursday's game after being hit in the head by a ricocheted ball during batting practice. On Friday, the mental reset seemed effective for Robert, as he went 2-for-3 with three RBIs in his return to the lineup after a three-game break to make adjustments. However, on Saturday, he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. An All-Star just two years ago, Robert's performance has significantly declined since then. He's off to a poor start this year with a .181/.270/.286 line and five home runs in 229 plate appearances. To his credit, Robert has increased his walk percentage to 10.9 - a career high - and has already stolen 21 bases. The 27-year-old has the raw talent needed to be one of the most impactful all-around players in the game, but he’s struggled to stay healthy and consistently perform at his best. Andy Pagés went hitless on Saturday. In the Dodgers' 2-1 defeat to the Cardinals on Saturday, Andy Pagés went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, ending his 11-game hitting streak. During that streak, he achieved a .400/.438/.667 line with 3 home runs, 6 runs scored, and 10 RBIs. Pagés is enjoying an outstanding 2025 season, boasting a .288 batting average over 61 games, with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs, and is on track to surpass all his personal records. Miguel Vargas achieved a single hit. On Saturday, Miguel Vargas went 1-for-3 in a 4-1 win over the Royals. He also drew a walk and scored a run. Recently, Vargas has slowed down, posting a .190/.292/.190 line with no extra-base hits or RBIs in his last seven games. Jorge Soler left Saturday's game against the Mariners due to groin tightness. Jorge Soler has been experiencing tightness recently, and his latest injury on Saturday led to his departure after just one inning, without any at-bats. He is considered day-to-day, but the Angels may need to reassess the severity of Soler’s injury. In the 2025 season, Soler has played in 57 games, maintaining a batting average of .216. He has hit 8 home runs and recorded 24 RBIs. His OPS is .672, and he has struck out 65 times in 208 at-bats.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Raisel Iglesias failed to secure a save and suffered a loss against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, giving up three runs. Raisel Iglesias (3-5) suffered a blown save and loss against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning. He did not manage to strike out any batters. Iglesias entered the game with a 10-7 lead, a runner on first, and one out, but failed to secure the win, leaving with an 11-10 deficit. He has now allowed runs in seven of his last 10 outings, resulting in a disappointing 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 25:6 K:BB ratio over 24 innings. Although there is no indication that the 35-year-old is at risk of losing his role as closer, he has successfully converted only 8 of 12 save opportunities and has a 9.58 ERA since May 8, while Atlanta continues to struggle in the National League East standings. Following Iglesias' difficulties and the humiliating ninth-inning collapse, Ken Rosenthal reported that the Braves are bringing up former All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. It's worth noting that Kimbrel, who has accumulated 440 saves in his MLB career, recorded 23 saves last year with Baltimore, although he also had a 5.33 ERA. Andy Pagés secured a hit. Andy Pagés went 1-for-4 with a run scored on Thursday in a 6-5 victory over the Mets. Pagés has quietly proven to be a strong contender for 2025, boasting a slash line of .289/.335/.498, with 39 RBIs and 12 home runs. Pagés is in a hitting streak of 10 games, compiling an excellent .390/.432/.683 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs in 41 at bats during that stretch. The impressive performance stands out, especially for a 24-year-old in just his second season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. extends his hitting streak. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. led the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 11-10 victory against the Atlanta Braves by delivering a home run, an RBI, a run scored, and a walk in four at-bats. Gurriel extended his hitting streak to 11 games, which is currently the second longest in the Majors, following Carlos Santana's 14-game streak. This season, he holds a batting average of .253, with nine home runs and 35 RBIs across 57 games played. In the past 10 games, he has sustained a .368 batting average, achieving 14 hits in 38 at-bats. With a season OPS of .744, Gurriel remains a valuable asset in the Diamondbacks' lineup, especially performing well in away games with a .292 average. Edgar Quero collected two hits Thursday. Edgar Quero contributed two singles in the White Sox's tight 3-2 victory against the Tigers. His performance at the plate reflects a .256 average over 121 at-bats, with a season on-base percentage of .343. Quero has accumulated 31 hits this year but has yet to hit a home run. His OPS is .649 over 38 games, and he has provided 10 RBIs for the team. With consistent playing time and experience, Quero has the opportunity to improve his batting power and increase his home run count. José Iglesias recorded two hits on Thursday. In the Padres' close 3-2 defeat to the Giants, José Iglesias recorded two hits. This performance increased his season total to 30 hits out of 118 at-bats, giving him a .254 batting average. Over his last 10 games, Iglesias has maintained a .346 average, with 9 hits in 26 at-bats. Despite the loss, his consistent hitting is evident in his .764 OPS during this period. Daysbel Hernández will be added to the 15-day injured list. Braves’ manager Brian Snitker informed reporters following Thursday’s game that Daysbel Hernández will be added to the 15-day injured list before Friday’s matchup with the Giants in San Francisco. There is still no update on the severity of Hernández's injury from Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, but he is expected to be out for at least a few weeks. Dylan Dodd is anticipated to be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Hernández's place on the team's active roster. Luis Robert Jr. was still not in the lineup for the White Sox on Thursday in their game against the Tigers. According to Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com, White Sox manager Will Venable announced that Luis Robert was absent from Thursday's lineup against the Tigers after being hit in the head by a ball that bounced off the batting cage during practice. Robert had also been out of the lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday for a mental break, but he was scheduled to play on Thursday before the incident occurred. As a precaution, he is being kept out of the game, but he is anticipated to return to the lineup on Friday against the Royals. Luis Robert Jr. has participated in 55 games this season, starting in 53. His batting average stands at .177, with 34 hits out of 192 at-bats. He has hit 5 home runs and accumulated 20 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of .266 and a slugging percentage of .286. In his last 3 games, Luis Robert has faced challenges, failing to get a hit in 10 at-bats. Over his past 10 games, his average is only .152.

The wind arrogantly swept across the left field of José Ramón Cepero, bringing with it the whisper of an unfinished tale. Ten thousand voices, hoarse from shouting "Ciego, Ciego!", understood that this was no ordinary game. It marked the beginning of a unique final, while also rekindling the sting of a fresh wound: during the 63rd national series, the Leñadores of Las Tunas had broken the hearts of the Tigers in a dramatic game 7. Today, beneath a harsh sun and on a dry, creaking terrain reminiscent of old bones, the felines achieved a decisive 11-1 knockout victory over the Woodcutters in Game 1 of the Grand Final of the III Elite League of Cuban baseball. Box score Ariel Zerquera beat the Woodcutters again and reached 9 wins in the year. (Photo by Jit) First act: a mixture of sinister pitching Ariel Zerquera stepped onto the mound like someone who had been anticipating this moment. Left-handed, with a steely gaze, his mechanics were honed through relentless perseverance under the blazing midday sun. His initial seven innings were a masterclass in control: seven strikeouts, three walks, and a no-hitter maintained until the sixth inning. The Tunas' batters, who had been formidable against him during the National Series, turned into mere shadows. None could make solid contact with the ball. This was likely the only time Zerquera relied more on her fastball than her curveball, as he was precisely placing his pitches. Zerquera maneuvered in and out of the strike zone like a skilled swordsman. After his first 63 pitches, the batters had only managed a couple of insignificant fly balls to the outfield. Seventeen outs. Six strikeouts, with some swings so desperate they seemed to stir the bold breeze. Zerquera operated with the precision of a watchmaker: in four of the first six innings, he retired the first two batters. It was as if he knew exactly what they were going to do, as I observed the inevitable struggle of the Las Tunas's batters. The sole blemish occurred in the sixth inning when Tailon Sánchez, the Tigers shortstop, made an error that allowed Osvaldo Abreu to reach first base. Subsequently, Luis Vicente Mateo shattered the no-hitter with a single to center field, but by then it was too late. The Woodcutters were unable to respond. Zerquera merely smiled slightly as he slowly and thoughtfully returned to the dugout. He maintained control of the game, with his routine and concentration on the mound remaining constant. He occasionally adjusted his cap and continued to balance after each wind-up as if the outcome depended on the next pitch. His approach to pitching was a philosophy that persisted until the end. He dominated the strike zone from start to finish, achieving his second complete game in 13 starts, with a record of 9-3 and an ERA of 2.76. Even the Las Tunas batters are probably still trying to figure out how to hit it.   Ronaldo Castillo hit tCiego's first of four home runs in Game 1 of the Elite League Grand Final against Las Tunas. (Photo by Jit) One blow and another: the perfect storm While Zerquera remained composed, the Tigers' batting was like an apocalypse. In the second inning, Robert Luis Delgado, a seasoned player who infused the team with his notable determination, hit a single to center field, bringing in two runs. This was just the beginning of his remarkable afternoon at the plate. In the third inning, Ronaldo Castillo, who had previously sank the Industriales Team with a Grand Slam in the semifinal, hit a line drive to right field that disappeared into the Ciego de Ávila afternoon. Ciego de Ávila 3, Las Tunas 0. The stadium shook. However, it was in the fourth inning that the Tigers made their move against Las Tunas. César García, the starting pitcher for Las Tunas, had allowed two back-to-back singles when Delgado came up to bat. Faced with a 2-1 count, the pitch was a curveball intended to land on the outside corner. Delgado didn't miss it: he launched a three-run homer that flew to the left like a kite. Ciego de Ávila now led 6-0. García left the mound, defeated not by a team, but by what seemed like a predetermined fate. Then, in the fifth inning, the back-to-back hits arrived, sealing an emotional afternoon for the Tigers: Frederich Cepeda, a veteran of countless battles, hit his fourth home run of the year against Las Tunas. Dennis Laza, the next batter, followed suit. 8-0. The crowd erupted. "Ciego, Ciego!" the fans shouted from the stands, waving posters and pounding on the wall padding around both dugouts. The battle didn’t end there, but the 8-0 lead hinted at the conclusion. The numbers of humiliation Statistics tell their own history: -Delgado: 4-for-4, homer, seven RBIs. An afternoon that remains in memory. -From the 4th batter to 8th in the lineup: 10-for-16, three home runs, nine RBIs. It was a team execution. -The Tigers, which in the regular season hit only 19 home runs, have already 10 against Las Tunas this year. -The Woodcutters, meanwhile, just two homers in 326 plate appearances throughout the year -including regular season and playoff. Then there was Zerquera, the architect: seven innings, one run, and seven strikeouts. The raw numbers fail to convey the brilliance of their performance, which effortlessly dismantled the toughest team to beat over the past five seasons.   Epilogue: what is coming Tomorrow (Sunday) marks another chapter. Eliander Bravo, the left-hander from Las Tunas, will go up against José Isaías Grandales, the right-hander who has already bested Las Tunas twice this year with a 0.61 ERA over 14 ⅔ innings. Interestingly, the Tigers have not faced a left-hander in these playoffs. Meanwhile, the Woodcutters bear the burden of an offense that has scored just one run in the last 14 innings against Ciego de Ávila's pitching. But that's for tomorrow. Today (Saturday), beneath a radiant sky, the Tigers rejoiced like children. Robert Luis Delgado was lifted onto shoulders. Zerquera was met with applause that echoed beyond the stadium. In the stands, both old and young fans murmured "Ciego, Ciego," reminiscent of when they were inspired by their 2010 three-time champion team. Thus, on an afternoon when the wind favored them, the Tigers made their presence known. They did so not as newcomers, but as masters of a destiny that, for the first time in the Elite League, appears inscribed in golden letters.   Summary of the game Final Score: Ciego de Ávila 11, Las Tunas 1/KO, 7-Innings. Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes. Attendance: 10,000, plus the ghosts of the past. Score Summary: Bot 2nd Inning: Robert Luis Delgado singled with a line drive to center field. Dennis Laza scored. Frederich Cepeda scored. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 2. Bot 3rd inning: Ronaldo Castillo hit a solo home run with a line drive to right field. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 3. Bot 4th inning: Robert Luis Delgado hit a towering three-run homer to left field. Tailon Sánchez scored. Leonekis Escalante scored. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 6. Bot 5th inning: Frederich Cepeda hit also a towering solo shot to left field. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 7. Bot 5th inning: Dennis Laza hit a solo homer to center field. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 8. Top 7th inning: Lázaro Ponce hit a line drive single to right field. Leonel Moas Jr. to Second. Yudier Rondón scored. Las Tunas 1, Ciego de Ávila 8. Bot 7th inning: Robert Luis Delgado singled to left field. Tailon Sánchez to Third. Leonekis Escalante scored. Frederich Cepeda scored. Las Tunas 1, Ciego de Ávila 10. Bot 7th inning: Rodolexis Moreno hit a groundout to the shortstop. Fernando de la Paz is out in forced play in second. Robert Luis Delgado to Third. Tailon Sánchez scored. Las Tunas 1, Ciego de Ávila 11.   The MVP Ariel Zerquera pitched a no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning with two outs, but it was Robert Luis Delgado who shone offensively, driving in seven of the team's 11 runs. With two well-executed strokes, Delgado provided Zerquera with complete confidence and assurance. What we learned Engage in the game and persevere. The Tigers have exhibited this approach, displaying bravery and modesty on the baseball field. The seven-game series seems endless. Now, the Tigers are leading and aiming for the championship. I believe no one, apart from themselves, expected them to reach the Grand Final at this stage. Indeed, sometimes those who start last can end up first. The key blow Robert Luis Delgado exemplified what every manager hopes for: capitalizing on the opportunities presented by mistakes. Luis Vicente Mateo mishandled a high fly ball over second base, failing to communicate with second baseman Yudier Rondón, who also lost sight of the ball under the harsh sun. Las Tunas' manager, Abeisy Pantoja, accurately noted that "the mistakes are costing them runs." Wise words indeed. Statistics show that 85% of defensive errors have resulted in runs for Las Tunas in these playoffs. They need to find a solution. Ultimately, with two outs, Delgado stepped up to the plate and hit a single that initiated the 2-0 lead for the Tigers in the bottom of the second inning. Two innings after that, he hit a three-run homer, dashing the Woodcutters' hopes. The surprising statistic you should know The Woodcutters have lost only 3.2% of the games in which they hit three hits or less. Three or less? Yes, it was weird. But the Ciego de Ávila pitchers have dominated the Woodcutter hitters, limiting them to only one run in the last 14 innings. It doesn't look so weird anymore! Managers decisions I am not the best ally of the sacrifice bunt, but the manager of the Tigers, Dany Miranda, has used it and worked on some occasions this year - do you also think that a little luck exists? Do not hesitate. Baseball has a little bit of everything.! Miranda does not discard the sacrifice bunt in his game manual. At certain times, it is reasonable: 1) Your offensive power isn't triggered by hitting home runs. 2) The team consists of a mix of young players and veterans. They frequently attempt to receive. Provide an opportunity for a clutch moment. The Tigers were the League leaders in Clutch. This is logical. In the second inning, Miranda initiated a contentious sacrifice bunt with runners on First and Second, which Leonelkis Escalante executed flawlessly. The Tunas had kept a runner alive due to an error by Mateo. Tailon Sánchez hit a fly ball for the second out, significantly lowering the scoring chances. Baseball can be unpredictable. Ultimately, Miranda was rewarded once more: Delgado hit a single that drove in two runs. The Tigers were not trailing throughout the entire game. A story to follow for game 2 Will the Woodcutters' offensive against José Isaías Grandales provoke a response? Can the Tigers successfully hit against left-hander Eliander Bravo? (Photos by JIT)

Yordanis Samón hit the ball and time stopped for everyone for a few seconds this Sunday in the bottom of the seventh inning. Countless Tigers fans rose to their feet. Lumberjacks reliever Rodolfo Díaz hoped the depth of the fly ball wouldn't clear the left field wall. Samón lifted his hands and remained focused as he observed his fly ball soar higher and gain momentum. Right at the moment of contact, he realized he had accomplished his goal. He aimed for a sacrifice fly to bring in a run and break the tie. Despite going 0-for-7 in this Final, baseball offered him a chance, and the strength of his swing resulted in more than just a sacrifice fly. The ball sailed over the left field fence, for a three-run home run that sent José Ramón Cepero Stadium into a frenzy. Box score Yordanis Samón came alive and hit a game-winning home run against the Lumberjacks. (Photo by JIT) Ciego de Ávila 6, Las Tunas 3. It was 4:22 p.m., and another deadly blow from the Tigers again heralded the end. In the next 25 minutes, the Lumberjacks' hopes were dashed. For the second day in a row, they couldn't mount a comeback, and the Ciego de Ávila Tigers secured a 6-3 victory, gaining a 2-0 advantage in Game 2 of the Final of the Third Cuban Elite Baseball League. Ultimately, history repeated itself. The Tigers outperformed the Lumberjacks and are now halfway to securing the title. Although the Lumberjacks have conceded 17 runs and six home runs over two games, I believe the crucial factor has been the commanding performance of Ciego de Ávila's pitching. The Lumberjacks have struggled to take the offensive lead in their initial 16 innings of this Final. The Tigres aggressively hit against right-hander Albert Valladares, scoring two runs in the opening inning. Valladares gave up two singles, issued two walks, and left the bases loaded. A walk to Cepeda brought in the game's first run, followed by right-hander Kenier Ferráz conceding a sacrifice fly to Leonelkis Escalante. Ciego de Ávila initially led 2-0, but the Leñadores equalized with a single by Leonel Moas Jr. in the top of the fourth inning. This was the highlight of Las Tunas' offense against José Isaías Grandales, who had given up only one run in 18 ⅓ innings this season. Lázaro Ponce hit a single with two outs. Las Tunas managed to get four baserunners in the inning but couldn't score more than two runs. Héctor Castillo ended the inning with a grounder to second base. Denis Laza put the Tigres ahead once more with a solo home run at the beginning of the bottom of the sixth inning, marking the only run given up by Ferráz during his impressive six-inning relief stint. The Leñadores responded by leveling the score at 3-3 in the seventh with a single from Yosvany Alarcón, who had been 0-for-6 with no runs produced, off reliever Yunier Batista. However, the game ultimately hinged on missed opportunities. The Leñadores lacked aggressiveness and clutch hitting: Yordanis Alarcón and Yudier Rondón both grounded out with two runners on base. Batista continued to keep the game alive and, even though he allowed a baserunner he inherited, he managed to contain the Leñadores over the following two innings. Despite being hit hard, Grandales finished his performance with another solid outing against Las Tunas' formidable lineup. He gave up 10 hits (all singles), struck out two, walked two, and recorded a wild pitch and a balk. The Lumberjacks managed to get at least two baserunners in three of the initial four innings. These innings had the potential to be significant, but two double plays diminished their scoring opportunities. In the first inning, Osvaldo Abreu was caught at second base following a line drive by Yosvany Alarcón to first. In the next inning, Lázaro Ponce hit into a double play. The Lumberjacks left five runners stranded on second base and one on third. Despite having enough chances, they lost by three runs.   So this is all that has happened in terms of positive and negative executions:   Negative: The Lumberjacks haven't hit in the clutch: they're 4-for-24 with runners in scoring position. Positive: In contrast to that .167 average, the Tigers have hit .333 with RISP. Negative: The Lumberjacks have hit one extra-base hit in 68 plate appearances during Games 1 and 2 of this Final. It was a double by Héctor Castillo off closer Yunier Batista in the top of the eighth inning with already two outs. Positive: The Tigers, who hit five home runs in five games in the Semifinal against Industriales, have hit six in two games against Las Tunas pitchers in this Final. Negative: Las Tunas' offense has completely fallen apart all year against Ciego de Ávila: they have hit only two home runs in 366 plate appearances. Las Tunas' lineup is missing its home run hitters: Rafael Viñales, who was removed from the team, and Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín, who is presently on the injured list. Positive: Dennis Laza, who is reinforcing the Tigres' lineup for this Final, has hit two solo home runs in his first eight plate appearances. Negative: The Lumberjacks stole seven bases in eight attempts against Santiago de Cuba in the Semifinal. They were unable to utilize their speed against the Tigers in these two games. Positive: The Lumberjacks have failed to steal a base this year in three attempts against the Tigers' defense. Catcher Fernando De La Paz has caught both baserunners who attempted to steal. But that hasn't been the only turning point for the Tigers' defense, preventing the Lumberjacks' speed: they have created 18 double plays against the Lumberjacks' offense in 10 games this year.   Manager Abeisy Pantoja commented, “they weren't productive.” Despite having 12 hits, they managed to score just three runs. Historically, in the Elite League, Las Tunas holds a 28-10 record in games where they achieve at least 12 hits. In the 38 games prior to this Sunday, they had only once scored fewer than six runs. Efficiency on the field: That has been the key to the Tigers' 7-3 record against the Leñadores this year, with a run differential of plus-20 (61 to 41). Their dominance in the regular season persists. Game Summary Final Score:  Ciego de Ávila 6, Las Tunas 3. Time:  2 horas, 47 minutos. Attendance:  ¡Al 100%!   Scoring Summary Bottom 1st inning: Frederich Cepeda walked. Yordanis Samón to second. Ronaldo Castillo to third. Rodolexis Moreno scored. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 1. Bottom 1st inning: Leonelkis Escalante lined out to right. Yordanis Samón scored. Las Tunas 0, Ciego de Ávila 2. Top 4th inning: Leonel Moas Jr. hit a pop-up single to right field. Y. Alarcón scored. Luis V. Mateo scored. Las Tunas 2, Ciego de Ávila 2. Bottom 6th inning: Dennis Laza hit a home run with a fly ball to left field. Las Tunas 2, Ciego de Ávila 3. Top 7th inning: Yosvany Alarcón hit a ground ball single to left field. Osvaldo Abreu to second. Yuniesky Larduet scored. Las Tunas 3, Ciego de Ávila 3. Bottom of 7th inning: Yordanis Samón hit a three-run homer to left field. Ronaldo Castillo scored. Rodolexis Moreno scored. Las Tunas 3, Ciego de Ávila 6. The MVP Yordanis Samón, despite being 0-for-6 in the series, hit a crucial three-run home run.   What We Learned Defense is often underestimated, but for the Tigers, it has been a crucial factor throughout the year. Game 2 reinforces this point: the Lumberjacks managed 12 hits, yet only a third of those occurred with runners in scoring position (3-18). Grandales was susceptible to hits all afternoon, but the Tigers' strategic defensive positioning was key in stopping runs. Key Moment Bottom of the seventh inning, one out, with runners on first and third, Yordanis Samón hit a three-run homer to break the 3-3 tie. The Surprising Stat You Should Know In their last 23 innings facing the Tigers, the Lumberjacks have managed to score only four runs, none of which came from extra-base hits. During the regular season, 58% of Las Tunas' RBIs were generated through extra-base hits. Managers' Decisions Leñadores manager Abeisy Pantoja faced criticism for pulling starter Albert Valladares after he faced four batters without securing an out. Nevertheless, Kenier Ferraz's six innings of relief pitching justified his decision. Prior to this Final, the Leñadores had managed to score at least six runs in half of their games throughout Elite League history. Indeed, 50%! Therefore, the clear reason for their downfall in this Final was the lack of offensive output. A Story to follow for Game 3 Numerous questions require prompt answers. Initially, the Leñadores must respond, and prevent the Tigers from taking a 3-0 lead. Next, will Las Tunas' offense come alive at home? Who will gain the upper hand in the battles of the third and fourth starters? These are the main expectations until the game starts. The Ciego de Ávila Tigers announced right-hander Kevin Soto. This year, Soto has an 0-1 record with a 5.23 ERA in two starts against Las Tunas. Of the 10 hits he allowed, 80% were singles, resulting in a .270 batting average for his opponents. Meanwhile, against Ciego de Ávila, left-hander Eliander Bravo allowed six out of the 10 batters he faced to reach base and suffered a loss in his only decision. He will be the first left-handed pitcher the Tigers face this postseason. Ciego de Ávila has a well-rested bullpen, even though their primary reliever, Yunier Batista, pitched three innings in Game 2. We'll see how those matchups play out.   (Photos by JIT)

Ten. That was how many Tigres batters stepped up to the plate this Tuesday at Julio Antonio Mella Stadium during the top of the fifth inning. Half of them crossed home plate, transforming a three-sacrifice inning into the decisive rally that clinched the Ciego de Ávila Tigres' 9-5 win over the Las Tunas Leñadores in Game 3 of the Final in the III Cuban Elite Baseball League. Ciego de Ávila has secured victories in eight out of their 11 matchups against Las Tunas this year, including four straight wins with scores of 10-0, 11-1, 6-3, and 9-5, resulting in a plus-24 differential. The Leñadores were unable to respond effectively upon returning home and are now facing the threat of collapse. No team in the history of the Elite League has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit.   If you haven't read how this story got to this point, you can enjoy the full coverage here: Game 1 Recap | The roar of the Tigers Game 2 Recap | The Tigers, halfway through   Box score Alright, let's discuss baseball for a moment. It's easy to see why Las Tunas is trailing 0-3 in this Final against Ciego de Ávila. The potential that brought the Leñadores their three titles hasn't been effective: —Their ability to produce runs has vanished: they've managed just 9 runs over three games, with more than half (5) coming in Game 3. Throughout 25 innings of offense, the Leñadores have never been in the lead. —Lack of power and speed: They made it to Game 3 without hitting a home run and with just one extra-base hit (Héctor Castillo's double in Game 2) across 68 plate appearances. Their streak without a home run extended to 89 PAs. They haven't even attempted any steals. Las Tunas hit five of their six extra-base hits in Game 3. Yosvany Alarcón hit the Leñadores' only home run of this Final on Tuesday in the bottom of the fifth inning. Surprisingly, backup outfielder Denis Laza is outperforming the entire Las Tunas offense, hitting three home runs, one in each game of this Final. —The Leñadores have struggled in key moments: they have been unable to bring in 35 out of 43 runners who reached scoring position. —No starting pitcher has managed to get beyond the fifth inning:   Game 1: César García, 3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 K, BB, 2 HR Game 2: Albert Valladares, 0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 2 BB Game 3: Eliander Bravo, 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, K, BB, HR   The starters have managed only one strikeout against 42 batters over seven innings, resulting in a 15.43 ERA. Additionally, the bullpen has struggled, having pitched 70% of the innings (23 1/2) up to this point. —While Las Tunas' bullpen hasn't struggled as much as its starters, it has still failed to suppress the Tigers' offense. Rodolfo Díaz, a key reliever for the team, has given up eight runs in his initial inning of relief. In Game 2, Díaz entered with the score at 3-3 and surrendered the crucial three-run homer to Yordanis Samón. During Game 3 on Tuesday, he inherited three baserunners, all of whom scored, and also conceded two additional runs in the Tigers' five-run surge. Due to this ongoing inconsistency, the Lumberjacks have struggled to respond. On the fourth pitch of Game 3, the Tigers launched their offensive against left-hander Eliander Bravo. Rodolexis Moreno hit a triple down the right field line. Ronaldo Castillo popped out to left, Yordanis Samón earned a walk, and Frederich Cepeda initiated the scoring with a single to right. The pattern from the first two games persisted, leaving the Lumberjacks trailing once more. The Tigers managed to get their leadoff batter on base in three of the first four innings and then smoothly advanced to home plate. In the second inning, Tailon Sánchez hit a double to left field and scored on a wild pitch following a disputed bat check of Fernando De La Paz. Frederich Cepeda might have posed another threat in the third inning, but he tried to stretch a double into a triple and was tagged out at third base by a precise throw from center fielder Leonel Moas Jr. In the bottom of the third inning, the Lumberjacks experienced their best moment while trailing 2-0. Rookie Luis Antonio Pérez started the inning with a single, followed by Yuniesky Larduet being hit by Kevin Soto. With two runners on base, Lumberjack fans started to regain hope. However, manager Abeisy Pantoja's strategy was evident: he aimed to play for the tying run. Osvaldo Abreu flawlessly carried out the plan by laying down a soft bunt near the mound, advancing the runners to third and second base. In an exciting moment for Las Tunas, they had two runners in scoring position, offering a chance to tie the game, with Luis Vicente Mateo and Yosvany Alarcón poised to bat. Meanwhile, Kevin Soto and the Tigers managed to secure an out, giving them an opportunity. With an 0-1 count, Mateo hit a grounder to Soto's right. Soto made an impressive catch and, from a kneeling position, threw forcefully to first base. Two outs, and the Lumberjacks were still waiting for the crucial hit. Manager Dany Miranda's decision clearly demonstrated his authority. He chose not to reveal his strategy: rather than issuing an intentional walk, he risked allowing Soto to pitch to cleanup hitter Yosvany Alarcón. Ultimately, Yosvany showed patience and earned a walk, giving his brother Yordanis Alarcón the chance to even the score. However, Yordanis struggled with Soto's breaking pitches and ended up popping out to right field. The inning concluded there! The strategy of using sacrifice bunts was ineffective. Mateo and Yordanis had 19 plate appearances but failed to drive in any runs. Within just under two rotations through the lineup, the Lumberjacks stranded five runners on base. The Tigers capitalized on the offensive struggles. In the fourth inning, Denis Laza smashed a slow curveball from Bravo, sending a solo home run to right field—his third in the Finals and fourth this postseason. With a 3-0 deficit, Las Tunas got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. A walk to Yudier Rondón and a double by Leonel Moas Jr. energized the fans at Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, but the Lumberjacks faltered in the finer points. Lázaro Ponce grounded out to first, and a precise throw from first baseman Yordanis Samón got Rondón out at home plate.   Yudier Rondón dashed to the plate but was tagged out on a play that stopped a run. (Photo by Roberto Morejón/JIT) Throughout the season, the Lumberjacks frequently succeeded with aggressive base running. In recent memory, they achieved seven stolen bases (three by Yuniesky Larduet and two by Héctor Castillo) in eight attempts against Santiago de Cuba during the Semifinals. Despite this, the Tigers' defense remained precise. Rookie Luis Antonio Pérez hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Moas Jr.—although Escalante's throw was timely, catcher De La Paz mishandled it—and Larduet ended the inning with a popup to center. The Lumberjacks left six baserunners stranded in the first four innings. Ciego de Ávila led 3-1 over Las Tunas in the top of the fifth inning, marking the smallest margin in Game 3 history. The Tigers launched a five-run rally by sending 10 batters to the plate in that inning. Prior to the finale, we discussed the Lumberjacks' weak offense and the vulnerability of their starters. We witnessed the bullpen losing an opportunity to keep the game competitive and some poor baserunning decisions. Let's proceed to the next chapter: defensive inaccuracies. De La Paz started the fifth with a single, which was the only hit required to complete the combined cycle against left-hander Eliander Bravo at the beginning of the inning. Remember?   1st inning: Triple by Rodolexis Moreno 2nd inning: Double by Tailon Sánchez 4th inning: Denis Laza Hits a Home Run 5th inning: De La Paz hits a single   The Tigers had not yet encountered a left-handed pitcher in these playoffs, so they swiftly dispelled any concerns about their effectiveness. What I would describe as the game's turning point followed: two bunts that unsettled the Lumberjacks' defense. Initially, Rodolexis Moreno bunted the ball, which bypassed the pitcher and gradually rolled into the second baseman's area. Subsequently, Ronaldo Castillo tagged first base. First baseman Lázaro Ponce foresaw the play, aiming to get runner De La Paz out at third. Ponce swiftly handled the grounder and, without delay, fired a throw to third baseman Osvaldo Abreu. I truly believed the throw would arrive on time, but De La Paz was far more adept. He secured the safe with the clever maneuver he executed to reach third before Bravo's throw to the plate. Pantoja disputed the play, but the outcome was inevitable. The bases were loaded, with no outs, and the "3-4-5" hitters poised to bring in runs. Bravo's stint ended as he struggled to contain the Tigers' offense: he faced 20 batters and allowed eight to reach base, seven via hits, including the previously mentioned cycle. Bravo managed just one strikeout, issued a walk, and threw a wild pitch that resulted in a run. Pantoja then turned to the bullpen and summoned Rodolfo Díaz to pitch to Yordanis Samón. Recall the seventh inning of Game 2? Indeed, Samón hit a three-run homer off Díaz that secured a decisive 6-3 advantage for the Tigers.   Pantoja's confidence in him typically motivates many of his players, but Díaz struggled to pitch effectively against Samón. He was cautious not to repeat the mistake from Game 2, where Samón hit a low, tricky pitch hard. As expected, his last pitches in the matchup were predictable: slider outside, slider outside, all well beyond the strike zone! Samón didn't swing at anything and drew a walk on a 3-2 count. Cepeda hit a sacrifice fly, and a hit-by-pitch to Laza loaded the bases again. Another RBI opportunity arose: Leonelkis Escalante hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing the score to 6-1. Díaz then allowed singles to Tailon Sánchez and Robert Luis Delgado, extending the rally to five runs. The inning started with a single followed by two bunts (each representing an out opportunity), culminating in five runners scoring. The score was Ciego de Ávila 8, Las Tunas 1. This midgame score hinted at the inevitable defeat for the Lumberjacks. And so it was. The remainder of the challenge was merely a matter of time. Kevin Soto pitched 5 1/2 innings, allowing three runs. He was just one out short of achieving his second quality start this postseason, but the key point was that he provided durability and dominated sufficiently to pave the way for success. Then, Yunier Batista came in to secure the final outs, pitching 3 1/3 innings with only one run allowed. I believe Batista hasn't received the full recognition he deserves, but his effectiveness throughout the year has been remarkable. In 24 relief appearances, he's 6-0 with four saves and a 1.85 ERA. While he's not a flamethrower, opponents have hit just .223 against his pitching repertoire. He's the kind of pitcher with a contrast effective enough to dominate the league. Yosvany Alarcón hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, the only one for the Lumberjacks in this Final, a brief highlight that wasn't sufficient. No one else stood out: Mateo, Yordanis, and Rondón went 0-for-13 in Game 3, leaving six runners stranded in scoring position. Additionally disappointing for Pantoja, Leonel Moas Jr., the Lumberjacks' most consistent hitter, has encountered only five runners in scoring position. When Abreu wasn't asked to bunt, he went 2-for-4 with two doubles. It might be too late to adjust the lineup and see if Moas Jr. can maintain his momentum, after witnessing Larduet, Abreu, Mateo, Yordanis, and Rondón go 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position over three games. Any of those figures appear unusual for the Lumberjacks, particularly after overpowering Santiago de Cuba's pitching. However, as we've observed, it's not solely due to Las Tunas' weak offense, but also their overall performance as a team against Ciego de Ávila. Over three games, they have struggled to surpass the Tigres' effective teamwork. Trailing 0-3, the Lumberjacks' only choice is to secure a win.   Game Summary Final Score:  Ciego de Ávila 9, Las Tunas 5. Time:  2 hours, 58 minutes. Attendance:   Approximately 12,000 spectators were reported..   Scoring Summary Top of 2nd inning: Eliander Bravo' wild pitch. T. Sánchez scored on a wild pitch. Ciego de Ávila 2, Las Tunas 0. Top 4th inning: Denis Laza homered on a line drive to right. Ciego de Ávila 3, Las Tunas 0. Bottom 4th inning: Luis A. Pérez hit a sacrifice fly to right. L. Moas scored. L. Ponce to second on a fielding error by catcher Fernando De La Paz. Ciego de Ávila 3, Las Tunas 1. Top 5th inning: Yordanis Samón walked. R. Castillo to second. R. Moreno to third. F. De La Paz scored. Ciego de Ávila 4, Las Tunas 1. Top 5th inning: Frederich Cepeda hit a sacrifice fly to left. R. Moreno scored. Ciego de Ávila 5, Las Tunas 1. Top 5th inning: Leonelkis Escalante hit a sacrifice fly to right. Y. Samón to third. R. Castillo scored. Ciego de Ávila 6, Las Tunas 1. Top 5th inning: Tailon Sánchez singled on a ground ball to shortstop. D. Laza to second. Y. Samón scored. Ciego de Ávila 7, Las Tunas 1. Top 5th inning: Robert Luis Delgado singled on a ground ball to left. T. Sánchez to second. D. Laza scored. Ciego de Ávila 8, Las Tunas 1. Bottom 5th inning: Yosvany Alarcón homered to center field. Ciego de Ávila 8, Las Tunas 2. Bottom 6th inning: Jeans Lucas Baldoquín hit a sacrifice fly to center field. L. Moas scored. Ciego de Ávila 8, Las Tunas 3. Bottom 8th inning: Héctor Castillo singled on a ground ball to center. Y. Rondón scored. Ciego de Ávila 8, Las Tunas 4. Top of 9th inning: Leonelkis Escalante reached on a fielding error by shortstop Luis A. Pérez. Y. Samón scored. Ciego de Ávila 9, Las Tunas 4. Bottom of 9th inning: Yosvany Alarcón grounded out to shortstop. O. Abreu scored. Ciego de Ávila 9, Las Tunas 5.   The MVP The team put on an excellent performance, but I want to highlight Frederich Cepeda, who initiated the scoring with a 1-0 lead and ended the game going 3-for-4, including a double and two RBIs. His influence extends beyond his batting skills, as he provides invaluable inspiration to the team both on and off the field.   What We Learned Let me reiterate: defense can be as crucial in deciding the outcome of a game as offense and pitching. Imagine if the Lumberjacks had turned Moreno's and Castillo's bunts into outs in the top of the fifth inning. The entire inning shifted after the hypothetical first out by Moreno. Would Castillo have still attempted a bunt for a sacrifice fly or to get on base with a runner on second and one out? Baseball is both thrilling and unpredictable! Key Moment The top of the fifth inning, where the Tigers' assertive gameplay and quick base running kept the Lumberjacks in check. The Surprising Stat You Should Know Did you catch what Abeisy Pantoja mentioned at the press conference? Pantoja, who served as the hitting coach for several years before securing two consecutive titles as the Lumberjacks' manager, noted that the hitters were pulling the ball excessively. It seems they might have become too confident in the pitchers' speed. The fact is, he's spot on: Las Tunas went 2-for-13 when pulling the ball in Game 3. The Leñadores had only one extra-base hit between Games 1 and 2, but this afternoon they managed five. The strongest hits were directed to center field: a double to center field by Abreu, a double to center field and a triple to right field by Moas Jr., and a home run to center field by Yosvany Alarcón. Managers' Decisions Abeisy Pantoja opted for Osvaldo Abreu to execute a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners in the bottom of the third inning. This is a tactic he's used multiple times this year, depending on his key hitters to come through in important moments. However, it didn't work out. As mentioned earlier, Luis Vicente Mateo is 0-for-6 in this Final with runners in scoring position, and Yordanis Alarcón is 0-for-5 in these situations. Neither managed to succeed. The strategy failed this time. That's baseball.   A story to follow for Game 4 Right-hander Luis Alberto Marrero made a triumphant return from injury against Industriales, guiding the Tigres to a semifinal win with an unforgettable performance. This Wednesday, Marrero is set for his second start of the year against the Leñadores. In his last outing, he didn't face a single batter before exiting the game due to injury. Can Marrero offer the Tigres the stamina needed to clinch Game 4? Or will the Leñadores start envisioning a remarkable comeback, aiming to recover from a 0-3 deficit? We'll find out if the III Elite League wraps up this Wednesday following the usual Play Ball announcement. ( Photos by JIT )

The inaugural Copa América professional baseball tournament will see twelve countries competing for the championship and a spot in regional tournaments, beginning in November 2025. The WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) released an official announcement today, stating their plans to host the tournament from November 13 to 22. As per the WBSC rankings, the top twelve teams from the Americas and the Caribbean will compete in the tournament, split into two groups: Group A (Panama is the country hosting the event) Venezuela (#3 of the world ranking) Dominican Republic (#11) Colombia (#13) Brazil (#23) Curacao (#26) Panama (#8) Group B (Mexico) USA (#5) Puerto Rico (#9) Cuba (#10) Nicaragua (#16) Canada (#22) Mexico (#4) The leading three teams from each group will move on to the tournament's Super Round, held in Mexico, where the final stages will also occur to decide the champion of the inaugural edition of this new international event. Regarding qualifications, the tournament will act as a qualifying event for the baseball edition of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 2026. At the same time, the tournament is anticipated to act as a qualifying event for the baseball segments of the Pan American Games, potentially marking the first qualification for the Lima event in 2027, and initiating pre-qualification for the Olympic Games, beginning with the Los Angeles event in 2028. The Copa América is expected to be the most important event that the WBSC Americas will offer to the participating nations on the continent known for some of the world's best baseball.