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Los Angeles Dodgers: Ex-prospect Yadir Drake will be returning to Cuba

By Yusseff Diaz

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: A detailed view of a Los Angeles Dodgers hat and catching glove is seen on the dugout steps during the sixth inning of the MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Pirates 6-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: A detailed view of a Los Angeles Dodgers hat and catching glove is seen on the dugout steps during the sixth inning of the MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Pirates 6-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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With the Mexican League being canceled, former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Yadir Drake will return to Cuba.

According to my sources on the island, former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Yadir Drake is set to make his return to the Serie Nacional with the Matanzas Crocodiles, a team he last played with back in 2011. In two brief seasons with the ball club before his leaving the island, he hit .250 with two homers and eight RBI’s. Drake definitely adds a very potent bat to the defending Cuban League champions.

Drake defected from Cuba in 2011 but didn’t sign with a ball club until 2014 when he signed with the Dodgers. The slugging outfielder got as far as AA until he was released by the club in 2016.

In 2017 he moved on to the Mexican League and was signed by the Durango Generals. That season he hit .385 with 17 long balls and 61 runs batted in. He was also selected to an all-star game and won the league’s batting title that season.

His performance earned him a contract with the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Nippon League at mid-season but wasn’t re-signed after the end of the campaign.

Last season in the Mexican League with the Monterrey Sultans he hit .316 while going yard 11 times and knocking in 44 runs. The slugger split last winter between the Aragua Tigers of the Venezuelan League and the Guasave Cotton Farmers of the Mexican Winter League. During the split season, he hit .285.

I spoke to Drake yesterday and asked him about his intentions to return to Cuba this season, “I will certainly start the season in Cuba. With the Mexican League being canceled this season, I need to stay in shape. The Serie Nacional begins in September by integrating myself with Matanzas I can get some swings in before the Mexican Winter League starts in October. ”

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He then went on to elaborate on his participation in the Cuban circuit this winter, “I’ll return to Mexico in time for the beginning of the Pacific League, but will be back in Matanzas in time to help the Crocodiles for a playoff run.”

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