Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources
Aug 9
Raisel Iglesias earned his 22nd save in a 6-5 win over the Pirates on Wednesday.
The right-hander didn’t make it easy on himself. After getting the first two batters out, he allowed back-to-back singles before striking out Henry Davis to end the threat. Iglesias has a 3.28 ERA on the year and has his highest BABIP and walk rate since 2019. His role as closer of the Braves has also been a gift and a curse as the team has been so good for stretches that they haven’t needed to turn to their closer as often. With his velocity dipping to his lowest mark since his rookie year, it’s possible Iglesias as entered the tail end of his career, but he remains a solid reliever. He's converted 12 straight opportunities, and the 33-year-old closer has a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB over 19 innings since his last blown save June 12.
Yoán Moncada went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored, and an RBI on Wednesday in a 9-2 win against the Yankees.
Moncada led off the second inning with a double and came around to score the first run of the game on a single by Yasmani Grandal. Moncada drove in another run with his second double off Luis Severino in the third inning. He’d later draw a walk to lead off the eighth. The 28-year-old third baseman is hitting .223/.276/.335 with three homers and 17 RBI across 203 plate appearances.
Oscar Colás homers in return.
Colás went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a 9-2 win against the Yankees. Colás missed a couple of games due to leg soreness, but he looked strong in his return Wednesday. The rookie outfielder added to Luis Severino's season-long struggles with a two-run shot off the veteran hurler in the second inning. The long ball gave Colás a modest five-game hitting streak, during which he is slashing .316/.350/.632 with two homers, three RBI and six runs scored. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .221/.259/.301 across 175 plate appearances this year.
In Wednesday's game, Yordan Álvarez and José Abreu combined for one hit.
Against the Orioles on Wednesday, Yordan and Abreu combined for 1-for-9. Abreu went 1-for-4 with a run scored and Yordan went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. This season has been completely different for both players. In 69 games with the Astros, Yordan is hitting .283/.389/.595 with 21 HR and 62 RBI, while Abreu is hitting a meager .234/.291/.343 with 10 HR and 56 RBI in 110 games.
Luis Robert Jr. was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Yankees with a sprained right pinky finger.
Robert Jr. is officially day-to-day after precautionary X-rays came back negative for any fractures. The 26-year-old superstar suffered the injury during the third inning of Wednesday’s contest when he jammed his right hand on a head-first slide into third base on his second stolen base of the night. He was 1-for-1 with a walk and a run scored in an 9-2 victory over the Yankees.
Yasmani Grandal was in the White Sox’ lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Yankees.
Grandal started at catcher and batted seventh in Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Grandal was lifted after five innings in Tuesday's 7-1 loss due to a sore left knee, but the injury wasn't significant enough to keep him on the bench for the series finale. The veteran backstop took a .683 OPS -- the second-lowest mark of his career -- into Wednesday's contest, and he went 2-for-3 with a walk and adding his 31st RBI of the year.
Jorge Soler was ejected from Wednesday’s game in the eighth inning for arguing a called strike three.
Both Jorge Soler and manager Skip Schumaker were ejected from Wednesday's matchup against the Cincinnati Reds after arguing a strikeout call. In the top of the 8th inning, after a questionable strikeout call of Soler, both the outfielder and his manager were tossed from the game by umpire Bill Miller. Soler was 1-for-4 as the Marlins’ DH. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season for the Miami Marlins this year, earning the first All-Star selection of his career. Through 110 games this season, Soler has recorded 28 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .246 batting average.
Andy Ibáñez: Sits in third straight game Ibáñez was out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. Ibáñez appears to have lost hold of a regular spot in the Detroit lineup, as he finds himself on the bench versus a right-handed starting pitcher (Bailey Ober) for the third straight game. Zach McKinstry got the starting nod at second base Wednesday, and both he and Nick Maton appear to have the edge over Ibáñez for playing time at the keystone at the moment.
Rangers call up Julio Pablo Martínez.
The Texas Rangers called up Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martínez from the minors on Wednesday, according to sources. Martínez will join the team in Oakland on Wednesday evening and will be activated on Friday in San Francisco. He spent five seasons in the minors after signing in 2018 for $2.8 million. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger gets his first call to the big leagues after impressing at Triple-A Round Rock to the tune of a .312/.427/.565 slash line with a .992 OPS, 12 home runs, 20 doubles, 55 RBI, 33 stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 67 games played. With some power and/or speed, will see if Julio Pablo sees enough playing time in Texas.
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