Left-hander Yoennis Yera' solid start, alongside effective bullpen support and an offense that amassed 17 hits, enabled the Las Tunas Lumberjacks to secure an 11-6 victory over the Florida Titans of Puerto Rico. This win advanced them to the semifinals of the Baseball Champions League of the Americas, which has been taking place since last Tuesday at the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City. Box score In the first inning, Yera conceded two runs due to two singles, two fielder's choices, and an error by the Cuban defense. However, the left-hander bounced back, pitching three consecutive scoreless innings with six strikeouts, which provided his team an opportunity to rally in the game. That's exactly what Cuba's starting lineup accomplished. In the first inning, Yoelkis Guibert hit a solo home run off right-handed starter Jean Pérez Valera, narrowing the gap to a single run. The following inning, the game was tied. Rafael Viñales and Yordanis Alarcón hit singles, and Roberto Baldoquín was walked, loading the bases. Tailon Sánchez then delivered an RBI single to right field. The potential for more runs was cut short when Yuniesky Larduet grounded into a double play, ending the inning. In the third inning, Las Tunas gained a commanding lead over Valera. Roel Santos started with a single to right field, followed by Luis V. Mateo drawing a walk. After Guibert struck out, three back-to-back singles by Yosvani Alarcón, Viñales, and Baldoquín propelled the Cubans to a 5-2 advantage, a lead they maintained for the rest of the game. The inning's final run was led by Tailon Sánchez, who, following Yordanis Alarcón's out, hit a single to center field, increasing the lead to 6-2 and prompting starter Valera to head to the dugout. Valera simply had a poor outing, completing just 2 2/3 innings, giving up 9 hits and six earned runs, along with two walks and three strikeouts, resulting in a loss. However, the Titans' bullpen, with first reliever Keven O. Ramos, did not meet expectations. In the fourth inning, he struggled to contain the Lumberjacks' offense, conceding six hits and bringing the score to 11-2. Santos began the inning with a double down the left field line and scored shortly after on Mateo's single to right field. Guibert was hit by a pitch, and Yosvani Alarcón doubled to right, adding the second run of the inning and placing runners on second and third. Viñales' sacrifice fly brought in the third run for Las Tunas, while Baldoquín's single drove in the tenth run that resulted in Ramos being pulled out of the game. The inning's last run was scored when Yordanis Alarcón hit a single, moving Baldoquín to third base, and Sánchez's single brought the score to 11-2. Solid start by left-hander Yoenis Yera, who struck out eight in five innings against the Florida Titans. (Photo by Olmecas Tabasco) During this time, Yera maintained his dominance by retiring nine of the ten batters he faced between the second and fourth innings. However, in the fifth, the Titans scored two runs against him. With one out, the Cuban defense faltered again, allowing ninth hitter Víctor Cepero to reach base due to an error by shortstop Sánchez. The Puerto Rican hitters capitalized on this opportunity, delivering three consecutive hits from Juan C. Martínez, Joseph Monge, and Kervin Camacho, with the latter two driving in runs. Yera remained strong, ending the inning by striking out Jay Feliciano and Luis J. Agosto. Thus, the left-hander completed a solid five-inning start, allowing six hits for four runs—three earned—while striking out eight and, most importantly, issuing no walks, securing the crucial victory. Following his exit, right-hander Yankiel Mauris pitched three strong innings, conceding just one hit—a double by Cepero at the start of the seventh inning. The Cuban defense made another crucial error that contributed to the Titans' final two runs of the game. Mauris recorded five strikeouts and did not walk a batter. In the ninth inning, closer Alberto P. Civil put on an impressive display, giving up only one hit and recording one strikeout, securing a win that propelled Las Tunas into the semifinals of the second Champions League of the Americas. This Saturday at 4:00 pm (Cuban and Eastern Time), the Leñadores will meet the Kane County Cougars for the second time in the first of two semifinal games. In the second matchup, beginning at 9:30 pm, the Diablos Rojos of Mexico will compete against the Santa María Pirates of Curaçao for the other spot in the final. This Sunday, beginning at 4:00 p.m., the winners of the semifinals will play for the title in the second edition of the Champions League of the Americas.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Luis Robert Jr. steals two bases on Friday. Luis Robert Jr. had a 1-for-3 performance with one RBI, two stolen bases, and two runs scored in Friday's 11-1 victory over the Red Sox. Robert also reached base twice due to catcher interference. Although his batting hasn't been strong so far, he's been making the most of his opportunities on base, with four steals out of six attempts in his last four games. He's hitting .167 (7-for-42) with five steals, two RBI, and five runs scored over 12 games, but he hasn't hit a home run this season. In 2024, Robert slashed .224/.278/.379 over 100 games, marking the lowest of his first five years in the majors, but his main challenge at 27 will be staying healthy. Despite the injury concerns, he's primarily played center field when in the lineup to start 2025. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the lineup on Friday to face the Brewers. After a day off, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the lineup against the Brewers on Friday, batting fourth against left-hander José Quintana. He ended a 15-at-bat hitless streak with a single to left field in the second inning. Although he went 0-for-2 in his remaining at-bats, he made solid contact each time. Gurriel has been having a tough start to the 2025 season, posting a slash line of .163/.176/.327 with 7 strikeouts over 13 games. Yandy Díaz achieves a multihit game. Yandy Díaz achieved his second multi-hit game of the year and the month in a 6-3 victory over the Braves on Friday. He struck out once. Despite a slow start to the season, Díaz is gradually improving, recording hits in 6 of the last 9 games, even though his power remains lacking with only two extra-base hits. Yordan Álvarez recorded two hits. Yordan Álvarez had two hits in four at-bats on Friday during the Astros' 14-3 win over the Angels. The designated hitter scored two runs, drove in one, and struck out once. Although Yordan's power hasn't fully emerged this year, it's only a matter of time before his bat heats up. Adolis García Shines Despite Loss to Mariners. In a loss to the Mariners, Adolis García went 1-for-2, hitting a double, scoring a run, and stealing a base, while also drawing two walks and avoiding any strikeouts. Following Friday's game, Adolis' season statistics show a .205 batting average with nine hits, two home runs, and three stolen bases across 14 games. Although Adolis has had a slow start by his standards, he has demonstrated his potential as an elite performer. Miguel Vargas returns to the leadoff position. Miguel Vargas returned to the leadoff position for the White Sox after struggling in the third spot in his previous game. The skilled defensive third baseman went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBIs, a promising sign for Chicago fans who admire his play at the hot corner but are aware of his batting challenges at the MLB level. At least Vargas is playing regularly, and now is his chance to demonstrate his abilities at this level. It would be a significant setback if he doesn't seize this opportunity to propel his career toward excellence. Vargas is currently slashing .170/.278/.234, with three doubles and six RBIs in 13 games, and he is on track to surpass his personal record of 32 RBIs set in 81 games in 2023 with the Dodgers, provided he continues to play daily. Randy Arozarena did not get any hits on Friday. Randy Arozarena went 0-for-3 with a walk in a 5-3 victory over the Rangers on Friday. He also stole a base, marking his second of the year. In his previous game, Arozarena had a 5 RBI performance against the Astros, which included a grand slam. This has been the narrative for the Cuban infielder since last year, with many ups and downs throughout the season. His struggles are often linked to a high strikeout rate and unnecessary aggressiveness at the plate. Jorge Soler continues his hitting streak, now reaching eight consecutive games. Jorge Soler hit an infield single during a 14-3 defeat against the Astros on Friday. He went 1-for-3, contributing an RBI. This single extended his hitting streak to eight games. For the year, Soler is batting .234/.309/.468, with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs. Andy Pagés hitless against the Cubs on Friday. Andy Pagés went hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts during Friday's 3-0 victory over the Cubs. He batted eighth and played center field. Pagés is having a tough season overall, with a low .159 batting average. While his power potential is clear, he needs to enhance his contact skills and on-base ability to become a reliable everyday player. José Iglesias collected two hits on Friday. On Friday, José Iglesias had a strong performance for the Padres, going 2-for-4 in their 8-0 win over the Rockies. He contributed two RBIs, scored a run, and struck out once. This season, Iglesias has a slash line of .263/.300/.263 over 7 games, with Friday's game marking his first two RBIs. While Iglesias is renowned for his defensive skills and versatility, his batting, particularly in clutch situations, can be unexpectedly impressive. The White Sox have activated INF Bryan Ramos from the 10-day injured list and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Bryan Ramos began the regular season on the injured list because of a right elbow strain. He now seems to have fully recovered and is prepared to start playing consistently in Charlotte. Last season, the 23-year-old had a batting line of .202/.252/.333 over 107 MLB plate appearances but demonstrated progress during spring training, ending the Cactus League with a .745 OPS. Yanquiel Fernández achieves seven total bases on Thursday Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernández accumulated seven total bases in Thursday evening's game with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. Yanquiel went 3-for-5, hitting a double, a home run, and a single. He drove in three runs and scored twice. This performance extended his current hitting streak to four games. During this impressive period, Fernández has hit two home runs and maintained a .389 average with a .944 slugging percentage. However, before this recent surge, the 22-year-old managed only three hits (including one double) in his first seven games of the season. Last summer, Yanquiel spent most of his time at Double-A before briefly playing in Triple-A and is expected to move up to the Majors later this year.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Aroldis Chapman delivers another inning without allowing any runs on Thursday. Aroldis Chapman entered Thursday's game between the Blue Jays and the Red Sox with the score tied at two runs and no save opportunity. He began the ninth inning by allowing a leadoff single to Tyler Heineman. However, Chapman had no difficulty retiring the next three batters consecutively, including striking out Bo Bichette and Andrés Jiménez. He delivered a precise performance, using 11 pitches with 10 strikes, including five over 100 mph, four of them struck out Bichette. He now has six starts in 2025, with 5 2/3 scoreless innings, eight strikeouts, a 2-0 record, and two saves. His two saves, in particular, bring his career total to 337, placing him 16th all-time and just four behind the legendary Rollie Fingers. With his historic speed and his MLB career that includes two championships, Chapman could very well become the first Cuban-born player to play in the National Series and, following an MLB career, enter the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. The Red Sox have signed catcher Yasmani Grandal to a minor league contract. The Red Sox's organizational catching depth has been impacted by Connor Wong's absence due to a broken finger. Grandal, who didn't join any team for spring training, will need some time to get ready before he can contribute at the major league level. Meanwhile, Carlos Narváez and Blake Sabol will handle the catching duties for the Red Sox. Raisel Iglesias completes another scoreless outing. With no save opportunities, Raisel Iglesias entered the ninth inning of a 1-1 game between the Phillies and Braves. He gave nothing away, completing a perfect ninth with a strikeout. Iglesias was one of the best closers in 2024, and in 2025, despite two rough outings against the Phillies that resulted in losses, Iglesias has maintained his consistent work and appears headed for another great season. He has a 3.60 ERA in 5 outings with one save (225th of his career) and 7 strikeouts. Yandy Díaz did not get any hits on Thursday. Yandy Díaz went hitless in three at-bats during Tampa Bay's 11-1 defeat against the Angels. He was substituted by a pinch hitter late in the game. Although Yandy has started the season slowly, he recorded his first multi-hit game of the year last Wednesday and has reached base in six of his eight games in April. Over this period, he has gone 6-for-31, with two walks, three runs, one home run, and six strikeouts. The Angels have put 3B Yoán Moncada on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb sprain. This appeared inevitable when Moncada was taken out of Wednesday's game after his injury flared up again. The Angels haven't provided a specific timeline for his return, but Luis Rengifo will cover third base while Kyren Paris plays second base. The Angels promoted J.D. Davis to fill Moncada's position on the active roster. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) Jorge Soler is on a seven-game hitting streak. Jorge Soler had one hit in five at-bats during the Angels' 11-1 win against Tampa Bay on Thursday, striking out three times. Soler has hit home runs in three of his past five games and is currently on a seven-game hitting streak. During this streak, he has gone 7-for-27 with one walk, four runs scored, three home runs, five RBIs, and has struck out 11 times. Miguel Vargas went hitless on Thursday. Following his second multi-hit performance of the season, Miguel Vargas was placed third in the White Sox lineup for Thursday's game. Unfortunately, it was not a successful outing for him. The Cuban third baseman went 0-for-4, striking out three times in a forgettable night. In 2025, his slash line fell to .163/.265/.209, with two extra-base hits and 4 RBIs over 12 games.

Yasiel Santoya homered again against Pinar del Río. (Photo by Boris Luis Cabrera) Industriales managed to remain in sole possession of third place in the III Cuban Elite Baseball League (III LEBC) after their 6-4 victory over Pinar del Río, their third consecutive win in the four-game series that concludes this Saturday. Industriales, playing at Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana, benefited from an outstanding performance by right-hander Raymond Figueredo (2-3). He effectively controlled the Pinar del Río offense for seven innings, conceding only four hits for two runs—one earned—while recording two strikeouts and issuing one walk. Figueredo faced the minimum of batters in four of the seven innings he pitched, conceding one run in the first inning because of an error by his Team's defense. From the third to the sixth inning, he retired seven batters in a row. It wasn't until the eighth inning that he encountered more difficulties, when Lázaro Fernández started the inning with a single to center field, and eventually scored later, in an inning where the Vegueros tallied three runs. Following the single, the right-hander was replaced, and even though the capital team's bullpen seemed vulnerable, with Carlos M. Cuesta allowing three additional hits, including a two-RBI by designated hitter Yoán Rojas, right-hander Leodán Reyes (1) stepped in for relief and delivered an outstanding performance, pitching 1 2/3 perfect innings with a strikeout to secure the save. Industriales encountered a strong start from right-hander Raikol Suárez (0-3), who pitched four innings, striking out seven and giving up four hits, for two runs, ultimately leading to his defeat. In the second inning, Industriales leveled the score, when Yasiel Santoya, the Vegueros' nemesis in the series, hit his second home run in as many days, marking his sixth RBI in the series against Pinar. Up until the fifth inning, neither team gained an advantage, keeping the score even at one. However, in the fifth inning, Brandon Pérez and Alfredo Rodríguez started the inning with back-to-back singles, leading to Suárez's departure. Facing reliever José E. Santos, Ángel Hechavarría advanced Brandon to third base with a pop fly to right field, paving the way for Yasmani Tomás to bring in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to right field. In the following inning, Industriales added two more runs. After two walks and a sacrifice and with the first base unoccupied, pinch-hitter Ariel Hechavarría hit a triple that drove in both runners, increasing the Industriales' lead to 4-1. In the seventh inning, Industriales clinched the win with two more runs. Ángel Hechavarría singled and was followed by a double from Dennis Laza that advanced him to third base. Yosvani Peñalver drove one run with a single, and facing a new reliever, Santoya hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in the final run for Industriales. Industriales win, combined with the postponed game between Santiago de Cuba and Granma, positioned Industriales solely in third place in this III LEBC, while Pinar del Río is now two and a half games away from the qualification zone. Photos by Boris Luis Cabrera

Providing additional evidence that the second edition of the Americas Baseball Champions League (BCL) is heavily focused on offense, and that the teams' pitching might be on par with—or possibly worse than—that of a Cuban National Series, the Kane County Cougars from the United States beat the Las Tunas Lumberjacks, 19-15, this Thursday. The tournament started last Tuesday at the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City. Box score The win ensured the Cougars clinched first place in Group B, while Los Leñadores remain in the qualifying round. They will face Puerto Rico's Florida Titans this Friday in an elimination match, with a spot in the semifinals at stake. In a game featuring 34 runs and 42 hits, four Cuban pitchers struggled to contain the Cougars' offense, which managed to score in five innings. This included an explosive second inning with eight runs and a decisive seventh inning where they secured the win tallying five runs. Following scoreless first innings by both starting pitchers, the Cougars took advantage of pitches from Cuban starter Albert Valladares in the bottom of the second. The Cuban defense conceded a bases-loaded run due to an error by third baseman Yordanis Alarcón on a ground out, which brought in the inning's first run. Subsequently, Shed Long Jr. hit a three-run home run, extending the lead to 4-0. Valladares gave up another home run in the inning when, following a single, Dillon Thomas hit the ball deep into right field, extending the lead to 6-0. After Valladares allowed two more hits, manager Abeicy Pantoja decided to remove him from the game. Nonetheless, this didn't stop additional runs from scoring, as reliever Keniel Ferraz surrendered a double to the first batter he faced, Josh Allen, which led to the final two runs of the inning, solidifying the 8-0 lead. As the Cubans initiated a comeback by scoring two runs in the third inning and another in the fifth, the Cougars matched their efforts with two runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth, preserving their lead. Until then, the game was securely in the home team's favor with a score of 11-3. Starter Chris Mazza pitched 3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs while striking out 3 batters. The first reliever, Colten Davis, pitched 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and 1 walk, maintaining the score. However, in the top of the sixth inning, Las Tunas mounted an incredible comeback, scoring eight runs to create a stunning 11-11 tie. In this inning, the Cubans recorded six hits—four of which were doubles—and also had a hit by pitch and two walks, bringing a total of 11 batters to the plate.. The doubles were hit by Yordanis Alarcón (2), Yosvany Alarcón, and Roberto Baldoquín, with the latter and Yordanis each driving in two runs. When the Cougars regained the lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against Dariel Góngora, who didn't manage to secure an out, it appeared that fortune favored the northern team. However, Las Tunas responded once more, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game again, this time at 14 runs. However, facing Cuba's new reliever, right-hander Frank L. Medina (0-1), the Cougars gained a decisive advantage in the bottom of the seventh inning by scoring five runs that secured their win. During this inning, Medina gave up five hits and hit a batter, allowing a two-run double from Shed Long and a triple from Max Murphy that brought in another run. Dillon Thomas' single contributed the fourth run, and he advanced to second due to one of Las Tunas' four errors in the game. He then scored soon after on Todd Lott's single, securing the winning run. In the ninth inning for Las Tunas, Roel Santos hit a home run to narrow the gap to four. Despite another Las Tunas' hit in the inning, right-hander Tyler Thomas Beardsley quelled the threat by getting Rafael Viñales to ground out to shortstop. In summary, the Cuban pitching team had a disastrous game, conceding 24 hits and 19 runs—13 of which were earned—while also giving up six walks and hitting one batter. Additionally, four defensive errors provided little assistance. Frank L. Medina, responsible for five critical runs—four of which were earned—during the seventh inning, allowed six hits over just 1 2/3 innings and took the loss. Meanwhile, right-hander Daniel W. Bies (1-0), the fifth reliever for the Cougars, secured the win by pitching a flawless eighth inning with one strikeout. This Friday, the Lumberjacks will play against the Florida Titans of Puerto Rico (third in Group A) in the day's second game, beginning at 9:30 p.m. (Cuban and U.S. Eastern Time). The winner of this contest will proceed to the semifinals to play against the Kane County Cougars, also scheduled for Saturday at 9:30 p.m. The team that loses will be eliminated, while the winner will move on to the final on Sunday.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Randy Arozena hit a grand slam and secured the game-winning run with a bases-loaded walk, leading to a 7-6 victory over the Astros on Wednesday. Randy Arozarena went 2-for-3 with a grand slam, two walks, and an extra run scored in Wednesday's 7-6 victory over Houston. Before securing the win for the Mariners with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning, Arozarena hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, putting Seattle on the scoreboard and narrowing the gap to one run. Although the powerful left fielder isn't hitting for average early in the season, with a 9-for-47 (.191) performance, he has still made an impact at the plate with three home runs, four doubles, nine RBIs, and 10 walks across 13 games. The home run was his first in April. Miguel Vargas achieves several hits. Miguel Vargas had two hits in five at-bats, along with an RBI and a stolen base, on Wednesday against Cleveland. Vargas has participated in every game this season, although he has been moved down from his initial position as the team's primary leadoff hitter. This shift in role is justified, as he has a batting average of just .179 and a strikeout rate of 26.7 percent. On Wednesday, Vargas achieved his second multi-hit game of the season, but he has only recorded two extra-base hits. Aroldis Chapman remains scoreless once more. Aroldis Chapman took the mound on Wednesday during Boston's 2-1 defeat to Toronto. He pitched the ninth inning without a save opportunity, showcasing his typical speed with a top pitch of 102 mph against Andrés Jiménez. He concluded the inning with two strikeouts, having started by giving up a single to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over five appearances, Chapman maintains a 0.00 ERA, with two saves, two wins, and six strikeouts across 4 2/3 innings. Andy Pagés hit a solo home run in a victory against the Nationals on Wednesday. Andy Pagés has hit home runs in consecutive games, bringing his total to two for the season. Although the 24-year-old's batting average remains low at .171/.306/.341, it's promising to witness some power from the outfielder's bat recently. Jorge Soler hits his third home run. Jorge Soler went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 defeat against Tampa Bay. Soler narrowed the Angels' gap to one run by hitting a 356-foot solo homer to right field off Ryan Pepiot in the fifth inning. Soler has hit a home run in three of his last four games and is currently on a six-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 6-for-22 with one walk, four runs scored, three home runs, and five RBI. Yandy Díaz hits first home run of 2025. Yandy Díaz had two hits in four at-bats, including a solo home run, during Wednesday's 5-4 victory against the Angels. Yandy hit a 327-foot solo home run to right field off the second pitch he faced from Reid Detmers, marking his first of the 2025 season. Although Yandy had a slow start, he has managed to reach base in six of his last seven games, going 6-for-28 with two walks, three runs scored, and a solo homer during this period. Yoán Moncada re-injures his thumb. Yoán Moncada was removed from Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay due to soreness in his right thumb, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Moncada first experienced thumb issues toward the end of spring training. He has already aggravated it once since the regular season started, leaving Friday's game early and missing the following three games. He couldn't finish his first game back in the lineup without another flare-up. The Angels might consider placing the 29-year-old on the injured list to allow his thumb to heal properly, though the team's plans are currently uncertain. For now, Moncada is not included in the lineup for Thursday's game in Tampa Bay, as reported by Jeff Fletcher. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a day off on Wednesday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles. This marked only the second time in 13 games that Gurriel sat out, as the Diamondbacks gave him a break to regroup after going 0-for-15 at the plate in the last four games. Luis Robert Jr. taking a break on Thursday. Luis Robert Jr. is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Cleveland. On Wednesday, Robert did not secure any hits in five at-bats during the loss to the Guardians, reducing his season average to .154. He'll take a break for Thursday's series finale, with Michael Taylor taking his place in center field.

Industriales secured their second win against Pinar del Río, defeating them 6-4 at the Latinoamericano Park, while Granma triumphed 6-2 over Santiago de Cuba. These outcomes shifted the standings of the III Elite League of Cuban Baseball (III ELCB), placing Industriales and Santiago de Cuba in a tie for third place. Meanwhile, Pinar del Río dropped dangerously close to being two games behind them, and Granma ended a three-game losing streak. Yasiel Santoya has five RBIs in two games against Pinar del Río. (Photo by Boris Luis Cabrera) Industriales 6, Pinar del Río 4 Catcher Andrys Pérez hit a single in the sixth inning that brought Yosvany Peñalver home, scoring the decisive run in the second game between Pinar del Río and Industriales, which ended 6-4 at Latinoamericano Park in Havana. In the second inning, the Pinar del Río team took an early lead against right-handed starter Pavel Hernández (2-2), with Jorge Y. Rojas hitting a single, stealing second base, and shortstop Dainiel López driving him in with an RBI hit. Industriales quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Dennis Laza hit a double, followed by consecutive singles from Peñalver and Yasiel Santoya, both of whom have been a constant challenge for Veguero's pitching in this series. Two innings later, Industriales gained a lead they would not relinquish when, following a walk to Peñalver, Santoya hit a home run to left field off left-handed starter Geonel Gutiérrez (1-1), increasing the lead to 4-1. In the seventh inning, with the score at 5-1, Pinar mounted a comeback, scoring three runs to come within one run of tying the game, during an inning when the Industriales' starter exited the mound. Pavel had performed impressively until this inning, pitching 6 2/3 innings while giving up only five hits and one earned run, along with 8 strikeouts and three walks. However, with two outs, he walked Dainier Gálvez, Luis P. Acosta then hit a single to center field. The Industriales' manager, Guillermo Carmona, decided to bring in the bullpen, and Leodán Reyes stepped in. However, he issued two walks, allowing the Vegueros to score a run and leaving the bases loaded. Fher Cejas was brought in to stop the threat but conceded a single to catcher Yadiel Guerra, which brought in a run. Additionally, an error by the Industriales' shortstop on a grounder hit by pinch-hitter Lázaro Blanco, allowed the third run of the inning to score. Ultimately, Cejas prevented any further damage by getting López out on a grounder to first base for the final out of the inning. Pinar did not score again in the game. In the eighth inning, Andrys once more stepped up as an RBI machine, driving in Peñalver for the final score of 6-4. Meanwhile, closer Armando Dueñas (5) secured the victory in the ninth inning, giving up two hits but no runs, and positioned himself as the leader in saves with 5. For Pinar, Geonel Gutiérrez took the loss after pitching 5 innings, allowing four earned runs, striking out five, and walking two. Pavel was the winning pitcher for his performance over 6 2/3 innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs, striking out eight, and walking four. Yunier Castillo defeated Santiago de Cuba on Thursday, breaking Granma's three-game losing streak. (Photo by Luis Carlos Palacios Leyva) Granma 6, Santiago de Cuba 2 Granma secured a solid performance from left-hander Yunier Castillo and the efforts of three relievers to defeat Santiago de Cuba 6-2 on Thursday at Guillermón Moncada Stadium, ending a three-game losing streak in the III ELCB. Castillo delivered an efficient performance over five innings, conceding six hits for two earned runs, along with four strikeouts and two walks. Designated hitter Harold Vázquez and left fielder Luis O. Veranes contributed the RBIs against the Granma starter in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. Meanwhile, Castillo effectively controlled the core of the Santiago de Cuba lineup, which included Francisco Martínez, Yoel Yanki, Edilse Silva, and Euclides Pérez. The latter managed just 1-for-9 against him, recording three strikeouts, two walks, and a double play by Edilse Silva to close the fifth inning. Altogether, they ended the afternoon 1-for-15, without any RBIs in the game. After Castillo left the mound, a trio of relievers—Lismay Ferrales, Geyler Gracial, and closer Yanielquis Duardo (4)—limited the Wasps to three hits and three strikeouts over four innings. Duardo secured his fourth save of the season after pitching two scoreless innings. At the same time, Granma's offense struck early against right-handed starter Wilber Reyna (1-4) as Darián Palma hit a solo home run in the second inning. An inning later, the Alazanes increased their lead with two walks and an RBI single by Yordanis Samón. The decisive run came in the fifth inning. After one out, Alfredo Despaigne singled to left field, and following the second out, an error by left fielder Veranes on a popup hit by Palma allowed Despaigne to score, making it 3-1. In the eighth, Granma widened the gap with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Alexquemer Sánchez. Two more runs were added in the ninth when Yulieski Remón hit a two-run homer off reliever Islay Sotolongo. For Santiago, Reyna pitched five innings, allowing three runs—two of them earned. Despite Santiago's four errors, Reyna suffered his fourth loss of the season.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks equaled two records set by a Cuban team in international competitions and set a new record for the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City. This accomplishment took place on Wednesday as they began their campaign in the II Baseball Champions League of the Americas with a remarkable 31-7 victory over the Santa Maria Pirates from Curaçao. Box score The match advanced the Cubans to the tournament semifinals, after Curaçao suffered two defeats on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Champions League of the Americas commenced its second edition this Tuesday. In Group B, the Kane County Cougars from the USA triumphed 16-14 over Santa Maria from Curaçao. Meanwhile, in Group A, Mexico's Diablos Rojos secured a 15-2 victory against the Titanes de Florida from Puerto Rico. This Wednesday, the Cuban representatives achieved an impressive 31 runs and 32 hits, matching the records set by the Cuban national team on July 16, 1978, during the Central American and Caribbean Games in Medellín, in their memorable 31-2 victory over Puerto Rico. In that historic game, Pinar del Río left-hander Félix Pino secured the win, while Rogelio Negrón took the loss. The Cubans hit 10 home runs and set numerous other records, including 24 runs in a single inning (the third). Meanwhile, today's 31 runs set a record for any team at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium. This time, the Las Tunas team's extensive offensive display wasn't as shocking as Cuba's in 1978, but they still managed to hit five home runs. Yoelkis Guibert and Rafael Viñales each contributed two home runs (with Viñales hitting a grand slam), and Yosvani Alarcón also added a home run. The offense was relentless from the beginning, scoring seven runs in the first inning against the starting pitcher, right-hander Misja Harcksen (0-1), along with his first reliever, Carrol Servania. Harcksen gave up five of those seven runs and allowed the first of Viñales' two home runs in the game, a three-run shot. Cuba consistently scored in every inning except the seventh, tallying five runs in the second inning, two in both the third and fourth innings, six in the fifth, five in the sixth, and four in the eighth. This was all against five relievers, with only Djenior Mogen managing to prevent scoring in the seventh inning. At the same time, Cuban right-hander Andy Vargas (1-0) delivered five easy innings, allowing only three hits. One of these was a two-run unearned RBI single in the fifth inning, helped from a throwing error by first baseman Viñales. Vargas recorded five strikeouts and issued two walks in his 67-pitch performance, with 41 pitches being strikes. Three other relievers took the mound for Las Tunas, with reliever Rodolfo Díaz shouldering most of the load. He gave up four earned runs over 1 2/3 innings, recording two strikeouts, one walk, and allowing four hits. Alberto Pablo Civil finished the game by pitching a flawless ninth inning, recording one strikeout. At night, in Group A, Nicaragua's Tigres de Chinandega were ahead of the Florida Titans with a score of 14-9 in the ninth inning. A victory for the Titans would have guaranteed them their place in the semifinals. This Thursday, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks are set to play against the Kane County Cougars at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT in a match that will determine the Group B winner.

In the aptly named Western Classic of Cuban baseball, Industriales capitalized on their home advantage at the Latinoamericano Stadium, securing a 5-3 victory over Pinar del Río on Wednesday as the Third Cuban Baseball Elite League (III ELCB) continued. Meanwhile, at the Guillermón Moncada Stadium in Santiago de Cuba, the home team solidified its grip on third place in the tournament with a comfortable 9-3 win against the last-place Granma. Industriales 5, Pinar del Río 3 Yasiel Santoya's double in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in Yosvany Peñalver from first base to put Industriales ahead 4-3 over Pinar del Río, a lead the Lions' team never relinquished. Minutes later, second baseman Alfredo Rodríguez welcomed reliever Jenier Álvarez with a single to center field that sealed the score, driving in the Azules' fifth run of the game. It was a game that was evenly matched until the seventh inning, with Pinar del Río starter Yunieski García (1-3) putting in a strong showing, holding the capital team to three runs until the fateful seventh inning. Industriales started aggressively when in the first inning they scored three runs, combining four hits and a hit by pitch, with one of the hits an RBI double by Yasmani Tomás, while Peñalver drove in the second with a single, and Santoya rounded out the tally with a sacrifice fly. It seemed that the Pinar del Río starter would leave the game early, but he recovered, and from then until the sixth inning, he managed to retire 16 of the 17 hitters faced, without allowing another single, and only giving up a walk to Peñalver at the beginning of the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Pinar del Río backed him up tying the game in the third inning, an inning where starter Yordan Williams came off the mound, after loading the bases and allowing a sacrifice fly by Lázaro Fernández that produced one run, and an RBI single by Dainier Gálvez that tied the game at 3-3. However, another great relief by right-hander Fernando Betanzo (3-2) was in charge of cooling the Vegueros' offense, leaving them with just one hit - by Yasiel Agete starting the fourth inning - in 4 2/3 innings with one strikeout and no walks. His work earned him the victory. In the eighth, Armando Dueñas (4) took the ball and pitched the last two scoreless innings, despite two hits, to achieve his fourth save of the tournament. The victory left Industriales alone in fourth place of the III ELCB, while the defeat made Pinar del Río drop one spot, now in fifth place. Photos by Boris Luis Cabrera Santiago de Cuba 9, Granma 3 Santiago de Cuba tied the Elite League home run record in Wednesday's 9-3 victory over Granma. The home run was hit by Yoel Yanki in the first inning off starter César García (0-3), a three-run shot that gave the winners an early lead. The blast was the 29th for the Santiago team in this Elite League, tying them with Artemisa, who set the collective record during the second edition of these tournaments, as our friends at La Hornilla reminded us last Tuesday. However, the home run was not decisive and Granma managed to overcome the deficit against Santiago starter Osvaldo Acuña (3-0). In the second inning, a single by Darián Palma and a double by Alexquemer Sánchez brought the team closer 3-1, while a sacrifice fly by Alexander Pozo closed the score at 3-2. In the third inning, Yordanis Samón would take care of driving in the tie, this time with his first home run of this III ELCB and 231 of his career in National Series. It would be the last run that Granma would score against Acuña. The right-hander recovered to complete another four innings, allowing three hits but without major consequences, finishing with 7 innings of three earned runs with seven hits, four strikeouts and two walks, for his third victory of the tournament. The Wasps' offense then took charge, breaking the tie in the fifth inning with a four-run single off starter and loser, right-hander César García (0-3). In that inning, a two-run single by Edilse Silva produced the first run, while a bases-loaded single by catcher Alexander Llánes produced another two and sent García back to the dugout. Off reliever Andy L. Pérez, second baseman Andy Rodríguez singled to left to drive in the last run of the inning. In the sixth inning, Santiago sealed the score with two more runs, combining a single by Francisco "Pancho" Martínez, an RBI double by Yanki, an intentional walk to Silva, and one of the four errors committed by the Granma defense, which enabled the second run to score due to Yanki's efforts. Yoel Yanki hit a home run and contributed four RBIs for Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday. (Photo by Guillermo Rodríguez) Relievers Isdenis Núñez and Israel Sánchez completed the final two innings for Santiago, with just one hit and two strikeouts, securing the victory. The win moved Santiago over the .500 mark, now with an 11-10 record, anchored in third place in the tournament, while the loss continues to sink Granma to the bottom of the league, now with 12 losses in 17 games.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Raisel Iglesias secures his first save of 2025. On Tuesday, Raisel Iglesias secured his first save of the season by shutting down the Phillies in the ninth inning, maintaining a two-run lead. Given a classic save opportunity, Iglesias delivered effectively. He got Max Kepler and Trea Turner to fly out to the outfield, issued a two-out walk to Bryce Harper, and then retired Alec Bohm with a pop out to third, concluding the game. He currently boasts a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 3/1 K/BB ratio over his first three innings this season. Andy Pagés recorded two hits in three at-bats, including a home run, and drew a walk in the game against the Nationals on Tuesday. Andy Pagés went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Nationals. He was the only Dodgers player to record multiple hits in the game, contributing one of the team's two runs with his solo homer in the fifth inning. Despite this strong performance, the young outfielder has had a challenging start to the season, with a current slash line of .162/.311/.270. Pagés has also faced some defensive issues in the outfield, yet Los Angeles has largely continued to play him, as he has appeared in 12 of the team's 13 games so far. Miguel Vargas went hitless on Tuesday. Miguel Vargas went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Guardians. Vargas played third base and hit seventh in the lineup. The Cuban infielder is experiencing another slow start to the season, with a slash line of just .147/.275/.206 and 11 strikeouts in 10 games. It may only be a matter of time before the team decides to take a different path with Vargas, who has not lived up to expectations for any MLB-level team. Yordan Álvarez drew two additional walks on Tuesday. Yordan Álvarez drew two additional walks against Seattle on Tuesday, following three walks on Monday. The Astros secured a 2-1 victory in 12 innings. In the game, Yordan went 1-for-3. He currently slashing .189/.333/.297 with one home run and 7 RBIs in 2025, but we can patiently wait for his bat to come alive soon. Yoán Moncada was not included in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Rays. Yoán Moncada was absent from Los Angeles’ lineup for the third consecutive game because of a persistent thumb problem that has troubled him since spring training. Yulieski Gurriel records his first extra-base hit of 2025. On Tuesday, Yulieski Gurriel went 1-for-5 in a 10-4 loss for the Padres against the A's. His sole hit was a double, marking his first extra-base hit of the season. He also contributed his second RBI but struck out three times. Gurriel is attempting to prolong his MLB career, though his bat might not be as effective over the course of a long season. José Iglesias made his debut as an outfielder. On Tuesday, José Iglesias took the field in left and hit seventh in the lineup against the Athletics. This marked Iglesias's first time starting in the outfield during his professional career. With three potential left fielders for the Padres benched due to a left-handed pitcher and Brandon Lockridge playing center because of Jackson Merrill's hamstring injury, Iglesias was given the opportunity to play left field. He ended the game 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Yariel Rodríguez ineffective again. Yariel Rodríguez once more had an ineffective outing from the bullpen. The right-hander was called in during the seventh inning with the Blue Jays leading 4-0 and ended up allowing Boston's first run of the game. He lasted only 2/3 of an inning, giving up a double to Romy González and a single to Ceddanne Rafaela that resulted in the run. His ERA increased to 9.64 in just 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed at least one run in three of his five appearances this year. Jorge Soler recorded one hit on Tuesday. Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 on Tuesday in the Angels' 4-3 win against the Rays. He struck out twice. Soler is performing as expected at the plate, with a batting line of .222/.286/.444, along with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in 2025. He has also accumulated 14 strikeouts in 10 games. Néstor Cortés undergoes Injection. Manager Pat Murphy, as noted by Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, stated that Cortés has undergone a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left elbow. This procedure is intended to assist in the recovery from the strain that led to his placement on the injured list on Sunday. Nonetheless, it is expected to prevent him from throwing for a few days. A timeline for his return will be determined once he is approved to begin a throwing program.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Andy Ibáñez's three-run homer off Carlos Rodón contributed to the Tigers' 6-2 victory over the Yankees on Monday. Andy Ibáñez went 1-for-3, hitting a three-run homer in Monday's victory against the Yankees. He initiated the game's scoring with his third-inning home run, which turned out to be the decisive factor in the 6-2 win. This was his first extra-base hit of the season. After beginning the season with an 0-for-9 slump over four games, he has now recorded a hit in each of his last three games. Ibáñez is currently slashing .158/.273/.316 across 22 plate appearances. Adolis García breaks hitless streak in lopsided defeat. Adolis García went 1-for-3 in the 7-0 loss to the Cubs on Monday. He broke his 0-for-17 slump with a single in the first inning, but he still hasn't recorded an RBI in his last seven games. The experienced outfielder is currently 6-for-34 (.176) with four RBI this season. However, he has hit two home runs, three doubles, drawn three walks, and stolen two bases over 11 games. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless inning Monday. In the Orioles' 5-1 victory over Arizona, Yennier Cano made an appearance. He entered the game in the seventh inning as a reliever and delivered a flawless inning, striking out two batters. Last year, Cano was among the league leaders in holds, achieving 34 (tied for 3rd), and he increased his strikeout rate by 3.1 percentage points. However, he also allowed more walks, with a walk rate of 9.6 percent. He aims to improve in these areas, and in the early stages of 2025, he is performing well, with 4 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, and no walks. Yordan Álvarez had three walks on Monday. Yordan Álvarez is a player the Mariners prefer to keep away from home plate. Given his past postseason performances against them, it's understandable that in Monday's 4-3 win over the Astros, Yordan was walked to first base three times - one intentionally - mainly due to the presence of Christian Walker behind him in the lineup. Ultimately, he ended the game 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Although Yordan's bat hasn't heated up yet, his first home run of the season last Sunday was crucial in helping the team rally to defeat the Twins. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get any hits in the game against the Orioles. Besides hitting two home runs in the first month of the season, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hasn't demonstrated much else. On Monday, he went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, recording his seventh RBI in 11 games this season. Gurriel's current slash line is .167/.182/.357, with 4 runs and 6 strikeouts. Randy Arozarena hit a single and stole a base on Monday. Randy Arozarena recorded his third hit of April on Monday during a 4-3 victory against the Astros. He finished the game 1-for-4, striking out once and achieving his first stolen base of the year. Arozarena's start to 2025 has been shaky; although he hit two home runs in the first five games, his performance has declined in April, posting a .125/.222/.208 slash line with no homers. Yulieski Gurriel appeared as a pinch hitter on Monday. In San Diego's 5-4 victory over the A's, Yulieski Gurriel went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter. With the game already at 5-4 in the top of the 8th inning and one out, Gurriel was called in to pinch-hit for designated hitter Gavin Sheets after Jake Croneworth walked. Gurriel then grounded out to the shortstop, enabling Croneworth to advance to second base. Gurriel' strong performance during spring training secured him a spot on San Diego's 2025 roster, but that could soon end for the 40-year-old Cuban legend, who is making an effort to prolong his MLB career at all costs. After misjudging a crucial flyball in Sunday's game, Andy Pagés was benched against a left-hander on Monday. This is his first absence of the season. The Dodgers aren't ready to give up on Pagés as a regular player, but he's probably on a tighter leash after posting a .118/.268/.147 slash line with a 34.1 percent strikeout rate in his first 41 plate appearances. In addition, although defensive metrics aren't harsh on his performance in center field, he frequently appears awkward.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Álvarez hits crucial home run. Yordan Álvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs in Sunday's 9-7 extra-inning victory over the Twins. He contributed the first run for Houston in the top of the first inning, bringing in Jose Altuve from third base with a sacrifice fly. The 27-year-old then added a single in the fifth inning before hitting a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth, leveling the score at 7-7. This was Yordan's first home run of the season, and he is currently batting .182 with the homer, seven RBIs, four walks, and 11 strikeouts over 33 at-bats in nine games. Luis Robert is experiencing a slow beginning to 2025. In Sunday's loss to the Tigers, Luis Robert had one hit in three at-bats, drew a walk, and was caught stealing. Robert has had a tough start to the season, managing only two hits in his last six games and 19 at-bats. Additionally, he has just one extra-base hit, a double from Opening Day, and has struck out 30.6 percent of the time. Aroldis Chapman secured a victory over the Cardinals on Sunday. During the first game of a doubleheader, Aroldis Chapman took the mound in the 10th inning with the score tied at four. Despite issuing a walk, he managed to record two strikeouts and a fly out, maintaining the tie. In the bottom of the inning, the Red Sox scored, resulting in a 5-4 win and earning Chapman his second win of the season. Chapman's performance for Boston has been impressive, achieving two wins and two saves in his four appearances as the team's primary closer, with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Brewers place LHP Néstor Cortés on 15-day IL, seeking second opinion. Néstor Cortés, who was added to the 15-day injured list due to a left elbow strain before Sunday's game against the Reds, mentioned he will seek a second opinion on his condition. Following a challenging debut with Milwaukee against his former team in the Bronx, the left-hander rebounded in his second appearance, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks, and striking out six. Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported that Cortés' elbow remained sore on Friday, leading him to inform the Brewers' medical staff on Saturday. It was collectively decided that Cortés would skip his next start and be placed on the IL. However, the Brewers are still gathering information and are not yet concerned about a long-term absence for the left-hander. Yoan Moncada Missed Sunday's Game, Could Return On Tuesday. Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada (thumb) was absent from Sunday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Angels manager Ron Washington indicated that Moncada is unlikely to rejoin the lineup until Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old aggravated a thumb injury during Friday's game with the Guardians and was also absent from Saturday's lineup. He has been struggling with a thumb injury, which also caused him to miss the last two weeks of spring training. Moncada is considered day-to-day. With the Angels having Monday off, the additional rest might allow Moncada to return to the lineup on Tuesday. White Sox catching prospect Edgar Quero went 2-for-5, scored two runs, drove in two RBIs, and hit his first home run of the season for Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday. Edgar Quero is currently batting .379 with a 1.017 OPS in the early stages, while fellow catcher Kyle Teel has cooled down, hitting just .235 with an .831 OPS. Although it's only been seven games, so we shouldn't overanalyze, if the White Sox were considering promoting a catching prospect to the major leagues, Quero appears to have the advantage at the moment. Jorge Soler hits a solo homer on Sunday. Los Angeles Angels outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler hit a tiebreaking shot in the sixth inning of the Los Angeles Angels’ 6-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. It was Soler’ second homer in two days, a 397-foot shot off Luis Ortíz. The veteran added two RBIs, and scored during the game.