With expanded rosters, one thought would have helped Cuban MLB players make some debuts this season, but that wasn’t the case.
Cuban-born and players of Cuban descent will account for 30 MLB players and 19 teams will have at least one player from the largest of the Antilles on their roster.
The Chicago White Sox (aka “The Cuban Sox”) will have six Cubans on their squad and one of the will be prized rookie Luis Robert, who is making his MLB debut. He will the 214 Cuban to debut on the grand stage.
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When Aroldis Chapman, Yordan Álvarez, and Roenis Elías return from the IL there will be a total of 21 Cuban born players on rosters, but with prospects like Andy Ibáñez, Yadiel Hernández, nd Miguel Romero in the minors looking to be called that number could grow past 30, breaking a record that was set in 1967 and tied 2016 and 2019.
Also, highly touted prospects such as Michel Baez, Randy Arozarena, Rogelio Armenteros, Cionel Pérez, and Adrián Morejón could make their way back to the big leagues sometime this year, while veterans like Yonder Alonso could also set action during the season.
Nolan Arenado, Eric Hosmer, and Lance McCullers Jr highlight the 12 Cuban-Americans on MLB rosters.
Here I leave you the Cubans and Cuban-Americans who will be on MLB rosters:
- Yoan López (Arizona)
- Jon Jay (Arizona)*
- Adeiny Hechavarría (Atlanta)
- José Iglesias (Baltimore)
- J D Martínez (Boston)*
- Albert Almora Jr (Chicago Cubs)*
- Yoan Moncada (Chicago White Sox)
- Yasmani Grandal (Chicago White Sox)
- José Dariel Abreu (Chicago White Sox)
- Luis Robert Moirán (Chicago White Sox)
- Gio González (Chicago White Sox)*
- Carlos Rodón (Chicago White Sox)*
- Nick Castellanos (Cincinnati)*
- Raisel Iglesias (Cincinnati)
- Nolan Arenado (Colorado)*
- Chi Chi González (Colorado)*
- Josh Fuentes (Colorado)*
- Aledmys Díaz (Houston)
- Yuli Gurriel (Houston)
- Lance McCullers Jr (Houston)*
- Jorge Soler (Kansas City)
- Ronald Bolaños (Kansas City)
- Alex Avila (Minnesota)*
- Yoenis Céspedes (New York Mets)
- Guillermo Heredia (Pittburgh)
- Eric Hosmer (San Diego)*
- Néstor Cortes Jr (Seattle)
- Rangel Ravelo (San Luis)
- Yandy Díaz (Tampa)
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr (Toronto)
*Denotes Cuban-American