MLB Players: Promising Cuban prospects optioned due to prolonged layoff

With no end to this coronavirus outbreak in sight, clubs have opted to option a number of MLB players. Here is a list of top-notch Cuban players to be optioned today.

Today was a Black Monday of sorts for plenty of Cuban MLB players in camps throughout the league. A hand full of these promising Cuban prospects were optioned to the minors retroactively.

The fact is that most camps were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which might have contributed to a club’s decisions to send these top-level prospects to theIr farm system. Their lack of repetitions might have also contributed to their assignments to minor league camps.

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In the following I’m going to run down what promising prospects were sent down:

Randy Arozarena (TB)

The Tampa Bay Rays brought in one of the most promising MLB players via a trade with St. Louis to bolster their outfield, the team expects Arozarena to be the future in Central Florida. Although the native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba impressed plenty hitting .400 and driving in six during the spring, he was battling for a position in an outfield against Yoshi Tsutsugo, Adam Meadows, Kevin Kiermaer Manuel Margot, and Hunter Renfroe.

With all that talent assembled by Tampa, the young speedster had tough sledding from the get-go. Arozarena who has five-tool potential will begin the season in Durham, but I have no doubts that the Cuban will see the MLB again this season.

Adrian Morejón (SD)

The Cuban lefty looks to be a future front end starter for the Padres. The native of Mayabeque, Cuba is one of the crown jewels in the teams pitching staff of the future.

Although he was shelled this spring expect Morejon to be a future #1 starter for the team. His 97 mph fastball from the left side combined with his array of top-notch off-speed pitches guarantee he will see the big leagues again this year. The flamethrower will start the season at Amarillo (AA).

Jorge Oña (SD) 

The Cuban “Albert Belle” as he was dubbed by some scouts hit a decent .286 in 7 spring training AB this included a titanic shot against Reds closer Raisel Iglesias. The outfielder is destined for Amarillo (AA) where he hit .348 and went deep five times in 25 games with the friar’s farm club last season.

Ronald Bolaños (SD)

Bolaños is another crown jewel in the Padres pitching staff of the future. The young righty impressed last year during his stint with the big club, although his ERA was a bit high at 5.95 he managed to strike out 19 in 19.2 innings and opponents only hit .230 against him.

In his first MLB start ever was against Arizona, he was impressive. During the start in which he took the defeat although he only gave up two earned and five hits in six solid innings on the mound. The righty will start the season at El Paso (AAA).

Cionel Pérez (HOU)

Finally, another one of the most promising MLB players is a hard-throwing lefty that was supposed to battle for a spot rotation as the 5th starter or a long reliever role, but the coronavirus shutdown threw a monkey wrench in that. Although Pérez impressed during the spring compiling an ERA of 2.45, he wasn’t in the team’s plans to start the season.

Look for the Matanzas, Cuba native to see the big leagues for the third consecutive season and hopefully establish himself and full the promise the team saw in him when they signed him for 2 million in 2016.