Today I’m publishing my second piece on Cuban players from the 2024–25 to 2030 classes. Scouting or tracking Cuban players abroad is a challenging task, and in this work, I shed light on their paths and futures. Exclusive content on Beisbol FR. www.beisbolfr.com/p/cuban-pros...

#Brewers 1B Rhys Hoskins’ 2026 mutual option was declined and he will become a free-agent, per @francysromero.bsky.social

The Baltimore Orioles will not exercise the $5.5 million option on Jorge Mateo for 2026, per sources. Mateo will become a free agent.

Cuban LHP 🇨🇺 Andey Garrido (18) has officially signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Bonus deal: $175,000. Garrido reaches 92-95 mph with excellent secondary pitches, including a sinker and changeup. He wraps up a multi-year journey pursuing a deal in the Dominican Republic.

Several industry sources believe that the Yomiuri Giants will not post 3B/1B Kazuma Okamoto after the season. Okamoto, 29, is one of the best hitters in Japanese baseball, with 248 career home runs.

Tarik Skubal became the third pitcher in Detroit Tigers history to record 13+ strikeouts in a postseason game. Per @francysromero.bsky.social

Today I'm publishing a piece offering an inside look at the Brewers’ scouting and player development system. I spoke with key figures to break down this new model. Read it now on Beisbol FR. www.beisbolfr.com/p/why-are-th...

Sources: The St. Louis Cardinals are calling up Cuban infielder Cesar Prieto. Prieto, 26, signed with the Orioles in 2022 after leaving Team Cuba’s camp in West Palm Beach, FL, in May 2021. He’s hit .293 with 44 HR in four Minor League seasons, a true story of perseverance.

Cuban right-hander pitcher 🇨🇺 Lázaro Ronald Mena (18) officially signed with the Chicago Cubs. Bonus deal: $350,000. He is the highest-paid pitcher signed by the Cubs in the current 2024-25 international period.

The #Athletics are calling up top-prospect RHP Luis Morales, per @francysromero.bsky.social Morales, 22, is MLB Pipeline’s 80th-ranked prospect.

The #Phillies are closely monitoring #WhiteSox  OF Luis Robert Jr., per @francysromero.bsky.social

Nick Kurtz became the youngest player in over 150 years of MLB history to hit 4 home runs in a single game. In the same season, 2025, we’ve seen both the youngest and the oldest player ever to hit 4 home runs in one game.

Sources: Cuban 1B Dayan Viciedo has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars for the rest of the 2025 NPB season. Viciedo, 36, is set to report later this week. He was playing in the Mexican League with the Tecos de Dos Laredos, where he hit 8 HR and .276 AVG across 38 games.

Aroldis Chapman became the left-hander reliever with the most All-Star selections, reaching 8 and surpassing Billy Wagner’s 7.

The Yankees could emerge as contenders for Yoan Moncada at the upcoming trade deadline, according to sources. Despite questions about his health, Moncada checks every box they want in a third baseman.

“Several teams are closely monitoring” #Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes as a potential trade target, per @francysromero.bsky.social Romero lists the #Tigers, #Yankees, and #Cubs as potential suitors for Hayes should he be traded.

Sources: Cuban OF Orlando Martínez (27) has signed a Minor League deal with the Houston Astros. Martínez is represented by Gladys Alonso of A&F Sports Agency and will report to Double-A Corpus Christi. He was dominating the Mexican League with 371 AVG, 16 HR and 48 RBI.

Cuban-Spanish C/3B Héctor Cabrera (17) has officially signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Bonus deal: $100,000. Cabrera was a member of Spain’s 🇪🇸 U-18 team in 2023 and features excellent athleticism and a strong arm. He is represented by Ryde Rodriguez.

Luis Robert Jr. continues to draw attention as a potential trade piece. Teams like the Yankees, Mariners, and Phillies are expected to be in the conversation ahead of the trade deadline, according to industry sources.

Yuli Gurriel turns 41 today. One of the greatest Cuban players of all time, who made his MLB debut at age 32 in 2016.

Aroldis Chapman continues to pitch at an All-Star level in 2025, posting a 1.73 ERA, 10 saves, and holding opponents to a .161 batting average. If the Red Sox fall out of contention by late July, Chapman is expected to be one of the most coveted arms on the trade market.

Cuban LHP Naikel Cruz officially signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Cruz, 26, pitched for Cuba in the 2023 WBC and took part in two U-23 World Cups with the national team. He throws a 91–94 mph fastball, with a curveball and sinker that show above-average spin rate.

Cuban right-hander pitcher Briam Reyes Cedeño (17) has officially signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Bonus deal: $130,000. An explosive pitcher with strike zone command/stuff that includes a slider, changeup, and fastball (90–92 MPH). Trained by Yuan Pino Academy.

Shohei Ohtani is the third player in Dodgers history with 15 home runs in a calendar month, and the first since Pedro Guerrero (15 in June 1985).

Venezuela 🇻🇪 and the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 dominate over 80% of 2024-25 international signings. A Cuban player is expected to join the Cardinals. DPL event in Hallandale, Florida. More in May’s International Notes. (paid subscribers only.) www.beisbolfr.com/p/internatio...

Sources: Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. has been called up to the Big Leagues by the Miami Marlins. He is currently with the team in San Diego, but it has not yet been decided if he will be activated today. First: @kevinbarral.bsky.social

The Chicago White Sox have released Cuban OF Oscar Colás, their standout international signing from 2022 who received a $2.7 M bonus. Colás failed to meet expectations during his rookie season in 2023, and afterward, his mental state declined. Alongside that, he never received another opportunity.

Cuban right-handed pitcher 🇨🇺 Ricardo Fernández (16) officially signed with the St. Louis Cardinals this Thursday. Bonus deal: $110,000. Great arm. Fastball in the 91–93 MPH range and the ability to further develop his slider. Represented by Pawell Baseball International.

The Red Sox explored the free agent market for first basemen but ultimately decided to pursue players via trade. They showed interest in players like Yuli Gurriel, but nothing materialized.

Yariel Rodriguez extended his scoreless streak to 10.2 innings. He’s been a different pitcher for the Blue Jays in May.

The Detroit Tigers have purchased the contract of Cuban RHP Richard Guasch (27) from the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League, sources confirm. Guasch was touching 98 MPH with a 1.93 ERA and 25 SO in 14 IP. He is set to report to Double-A Erie tomorrow.

Cuban RHP Luis Danys Morales has been promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, per sources. Morales ranked second in all of Double-A in strikeouts with 53. He is the Athletics’ No. 4 prospect, according to @mlbpipeline.com.

Today is Cuban Heritage Day at loanDepot Park in Miami. Tomorrow, Celia Cruz bobbleheads will be given to the first 8,000 fans entering the stadium.

The MLB batting average on 0-0 counts in 2025 is .345. Aaron Judge is hitting .625 (15-for-24) with 6 home runs (the most in MLB) and a 2.223 OPS in those situations. For pitchers, it's practically better to miss with the first pitch and fall behind 1-0 in the count.

OF Dairon Blanco is expected to travel tomorrow to join the Royals and be activated this Friday.

Yuli Gurriel is working on gaining more flexibility to play LF, as reported by @jonheyman.bsky.social. I can add that several teams have shown interest in the 40-year-old free agent.

Two-way player Kim Sung-joon, considered the “Korean Ohtani,” is in an agreement with the Texas Rangers, sources confirm. The deal is pending a physical. Sung-joon, 18, will receive an estimated signing bonus of $1.3M.

The Houston Astros have officially signed INF Sami Manzueta, a high-profile international signing. Bonus deal: $850,000. Manzueta was born in Venezuela and has Dominican roots. He shows great power, and contact skills. Same height/weight and tool profile as Alex Bregman.

Per sources: Cuban left-handed pitcher and free agent Naykel Cruz (26) is in an agreement with the Baltimore Orioles, pending a physical. Cruz represented Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, two U-23 World Cups (2021, 2022) and has several seasons of experience in Cuba.

Our monthly International Notes section is now published. This edition includes: -Venezuela 🇻🇪 takes the lead in signings this period -Remaining international budget by team -Angels leading the way with Cuban talent www.beisbolfr.com/p/internatio...

Yuli Gurriel’s DFA might signal the end of his MLB journey, a bittersweet close that doesn’t overshadow his legacy as one of Cuba’s all-time greats. There’s still a chance he gets claimed off waivers.

Dominican RHP Yomar De La Rosa officially signed with the Boston Red Sox. Bonus deal: $10,000. From San Cristobal, Cambita Garabitos, De La Rosa was trained by Yanet Academy Baseball. Fastball sits between 91-93 mph with development potential.

Sources: José Barrero has been called up to the Big Leagues by the St. Louis Cardinals. He will be activated tomorrow, Monday. Barrero was on a 19-game on-base streak in Triple-A with 4 HR and 14 RBI.

Cuban OF/INF Liordanys Menendez (17) officially signed today with the Los Angeles Angels. Bonus deal: $50,000. Contact hitter with bat speed, multi-position player and notable athleticism.

Sources: The agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) is in the process of seeking a buyer for its baseball clients. The agency will shut down its baseball division. Among WME’s clients are: Ian Happ, Taijuan Walker, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, Jack Leiter and Yariel Rodriguez.

The Chicago White Sox have called up Cuban prospect catcher Edgar Quero to the Big Leagues, per sources. The 22-year-old is expected to be added to the active roster Thursday in Chicago. Quero is ranked No. 62 in baseball, according to @mlbpipeline.com.

Cuban C/3B Héctor Cabrera will have a SHOWCASE in front of MLB teams on May 16 (10 am) in Delray Beach, Florida. A great athlete at 6’3”, 180 lbs, multi-position player with a strong arm and bat speed. He represented Spain 🇪🇸 in the last U-18 World Cup 2023.

Yordan Alvarez tied Glenn Davis with 166 home runs, ranking 8th in Astros franchise history.

Cuban left-hander Luis Fonseca (22) has officially signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after spending several months trying out in the Dominican Republic. Bonus deal: $10,000. Fonseca is the 23rd Cuban-born player to sign during the current international signing period.

The Phillies signed 71 players in the 2017-2018 international class. Of those, only one made it to MLB, working his way through the entire system, and only signed for a $10,000 bonus: Johan Rojas. And of course, of those 71, Rojas is the only one remaining in the organization.