Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2024 Postseason. A compendium from several MLB sources
Andy Ibáñez made a crucial impact with a three-run double as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning on Wednesday, leading the Tigers to a 5-2 win over the Astros and securing their place in the ALDS.
The Tigers secured the victory by using seven pitchers, none of whom pitched more than five outs. They initially took a 1-0 lead with a home run by Parker Meadows in the sixth inning but fell behind 2-1 due to defensive errors in the seventh. Nevertheless, they mounted a comeback in the eighth inning against Ryan Pressly, equalizing the game with a wild pitch before Ibáñez, pinch-hitting against Josh Hader, delivered the game-changing hit.
This marked Ibáñez's first RBI since September 10. Despite finishing the season in a slump with a batting average of just .167/.259/.188 after August 26, it is worth noting that Ibáñez has had limited recent at-bats, hitting only .174/.248/.239 in 101 plate appearances since the All-Star break. The Tigers will surely be optimistic for similar performances if Ibáñez is given more opportunities in the upcoming rounds. Following the game, Ibáñez shared his thoughts on his pivotal hit when asked if he had imagined such a postseason moment: “Never. Never, ever. I've been in the big leagues for a couple of years. Every time (in the playoffs), I just watch the Astros on TV. Yes, this is definitely the biggest moment of my baseball career” He later added, “As soon as I made contact, I was just hoping the ball would stay fair, most importantly, I was urging the runners on base to go, go, go, go, go. When I reached second base, I saw the Tigers fans cheering on top of our dugout, and it was a very touching and emotional moment.”
Jorge Soler hit a home run during Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Despite Soler's contribution, the Braves ultimately lost Game 2 and the series, following a 5-4 defeat against the Padres on Wednesday night. Max Fried struggled, lasting only 3 innings and allowing 5 runs in a challenging second inning. The Padres bullpen maintained the lead, with closer Robert Suárez securing his first postseason save. Soler's performance included a solo home run in a 1-for-3 effort, alongside a walk and a strikeout. In total, Soler went 2-for-7 with one RBI and two strikeouts in his fifth career postseason appearance.
In Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series, Cionel Pérez suffered a defeat.
The Orioles concluded their season with another postseason sweep, falling 2-1 to the Royals on Wednesday. This loss extended their losing streak to 10 games, primarily due to the Orioles' struggling offense. Baltimore only managed to score one run across the two AL Wild Card Series games against Kansas City. Despite a slow start on Wednesday, the Orioles managed to tie Game 2 when Mullins hit a leadoff home run in the fifth inning. However, their momentum quickly faded as they failed to score any runs after loading the bases with no outs in the same inning. In the sixth inning, the Royals took the lead for good with Bobby Witt Jr.'s two-out RBI infield single. This pivotal moment involved the Orioles' two Cuban pitchers. In a controversial move, Cionel Pérez replaced Jacob Webb on the mound to face left-handed batter Kyle Isbel with already one out, but Isbel reached base with an infield single to third. Although Pérez struck out Maikel García for the second out, he then allowed a single to Michael Massey, placing runners on the corners. With two outs, Yennier Cano was brought in to face Bobby Witt Jr. in a crucial situation. Unfortunately, Cano gave up an infield single to Witt, giving the Royals a decisive 2-1 lead.
The performance of both Cuban relievers was consistent but not enough to prevent the disappointing outcome. For Cionel Pérez it was his first career postseason defeat in his sole appearance this year.
Yuli Gurriel did not record a hit in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series. Dairon Blanco stolen a base.
Kansas City defeated the Orioles 2-1 in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series, completing a two-game sweep of the Orioles and advancing to the AL Division Series. The Royals will face the Yankees in the next round. During the match, Yulieski Gurriel was unsuccessful in getting a hit, going 0-for-4 with a walk. Gurriel finished the 2024 Wild Card Series with a 1-for-7 performance, including a walk and a strikeout. Dairon Blanco made his first postseason appearance in the same game, entering as a pinch runner and successfully stealing his first career postseason base.
In Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, José Iglesias had a one-hit game.
During Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, the Milwaukee Brewers staged a comeback by scoring three crucial runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, securing a 5-3 victory over the Mets. This win led to a Game 3 being necessary for both teams, as they aimed to advance to the National League Division Series. José Iglesias recorded his second hit of the series during this game, going 1-for-5 with a run scored and two strikeouts. The versatile player now holds a 2-for-10 showing in the series, including an RBI and two runs scored.
Yariel Rodríguez was described by Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins as a "solid option" for the Toronto rotation in 2025, but no specific role was confirmed.
Heading into the offseason, Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins did not definitively assign a role to Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodríguez. Atkins acknowledged Yariel as a valuable choice for the starting rotation and expressed satisfaction with his current workload as a starter. Nonetheless, Atkins mentioned, "If we were to acquire one, I think he would be an exceptional reliever." This suggests that the Blue Jays will maintain flexibility regarding the 27-year-old's position in the upcoming year. In 2024, Toronto carefully managed Yariel's innings in his rookie season after his absence from affiliated baseball in 2023. All of Yariel's 21 appearances for the Blue Jays in his debut year were as a starter, resulting in a 4.47 ERA (4.34 FIP), a 1.31 WHIP, and an 85:40 K:BB ratio across 86 2/3 innings.
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