Today, MLB players don’t have to hang up their cleats when their big-league careers end. They can find new life in other places, such as the Mexican League.
It’s interesting to see former MLB players making such a great impact in the Mexican League.
For example, Henry Urrutia was a highly touted prospect coming out of Las Tunas, Cuba. The cousin of Cuban Legend Osmani Urrutia, for various reasons, was never given the chance to secure a big-league job by the Baltimore Orioles. Although he hit .272 in his MLB career.
But the Cuban slugger has come into his own in the Mexican circuit hitting .370 with 33 long balls and 100 runs batted in with the Tijuana Toros and Saltillo Saraperos.
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Dariel Álvarez is another ex-big leaguer who is a terror to Mexican League pitching. The native of Camagüey, Cuba was also with Tijuana/Saltillo last season and raked.
The ex-Orioles prospect hit .288 with 18 big flys and 80 runs batted in.
Another ex-major leaguer who will be fighting for a job is Yunesky Maya, the ex-National will be invited to camp with the Dos Laredos Tecolotes after a brilliant Caribbean World Series where he went 1-0 and posted a dazzling 1.80 with the Dominican Republic bringing that island it’s 20 crown in that tournament.
Maya still owns dazzling offspeed pitches and fastball between 88-90 mph. It will be interesting to see the Pinar del Río native show the Tecolotes this spring that he can still pitch.
It’s not just former MLB players that see opportunities arise in the Mexican League, for the first time Cuban nationals are being signed in droves by the Mexican League without a third country residency.
Cuban League stars like Frederich Cepeda, Roel Santos , Lázaro Blanco and rookie phenom Cesar Prieto will be playing in the league.
It was determined that the US Embargo on the small island doesn’t apply to the Mexican League.
Cubans signed by Mexican League teams in 2020:
- Ronnier Mustelier (INF) Tabasco Olmecas
- Yoanni Yera (LHP) Tabasco Olmecas*
- Cesar Prieto (2B) Tabasco Olmecas*
- Raico Santos (OF) Tabasco Olmecas*
- Roel Santos (OF) Tabasco Olmecas*
- Carlos Juan Viera (RHP) Saltillo Saraperos*
- Lázaro Blanco (RHP) Saltillo Saraperos*
- Josuan Hernández (Útil) Saltillo Saraperos
- Henry Urrutia (OF) Saltillo Saraperos
- Dariel Álvarez (OF) Saltillo Saraperos
- Frederich Cepeda (OF) Campeche Pirates*
- Daniel Carbonell (OF) Campeche Pirates
- Jorge Martínez (RHP) Yucatán Lions
- Yoanner Negrín (RHP) Yucatán Lions
- Yadir Drake (OF) Yucatán Lions
- Carlos Sierra (RHP) Durango Generals
- Yoanys Quiala (RHP) Tijuana Toros
- Félix Pérez (OF-1B) Monterrey Sultans
- Elian Levya (RHP) Puebla Pericos
Cubans invited to camp in 2020:
- Yunesky Maya (RHP) Tecolotes of Dos Laredos
- Javier Camero (OF) Tabasco Olmecas*
- Maikel Serrano (OF) Tabasco Olmecas
- Albert Lara (OF) Tabasco Olmecas
- Noel Ortiz (LHP) Rieleros de Aguascalientes
*Denotes Cuban national without a third country residency