The current influx of Cuban baseball players joining MLB isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Following Boston’s record-setting, $72.5 million signing of outfielder Rusney Castillo last week, the Cubs called up outfielder Jorge Soler to debut on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Cuban outfielder, who signed a nine-year, $30 million contract in June 2012, wasted little time making an imprint on the big leagues, clubbing a long home run in his very first at-bat for the prospect-rich Cubs.
[mlbvideo id=”35716587″ width=”612″ height=”360″ /]
And there is a new round of mystery free agents to dream on: First baseman Jozzen Cuesta and left-handed pitcher Misael Siverio will follow the Castillo model with a showcase workout Friday morning in Jupiter, Fla.
According to a CBS Sports report, the 25-year-olds are not quite of the same caliber as the speedy Castillo. Cuesta, a right-handed power hitter, batted .385 with a homer and six RBIs as Jose Abreu’s backup at the 2013 WBC. Siverio is touted as having a low-90s fastball with a curveball and splitter in his arsenal.
Dodgers star Yasiel Puig highlights a recent wave of Cuban defectors to steal the major league limelight, along with AL Rookie of the Year front-runner Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes and Aroldis Chapman.