Among the 42 Cuban players (32 hitters and 10 pitchers) who have participated in spring training to date, the most outstanding performances are concentrated in Randy Arozarena, José Israel García, Rusney Castillo, Yasmany Tomás and the phenomenon Luis Robert.
Arozarena has looked immense with Tampa after averaging .583 in eight games that have left his OPS at 1.556. A striking detail is that the young outfielder, who already debuted in the Big League during the previous season, has gotten six walks without the shadow of a strikeout.
However, it is clear that he will still have to continue making merit to wear the Rays jersey on Opening Day, since the team has elements such as Kevin Kiermaier, Hunter Renfroe, Austin Meadows and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo in the outfield.
For his part, former industrialist José Israel García has been burning up the league for Cincinnati, to the point that he is the Cuban with the most home runs (3) and RBIs (6, tied with Arozarena).
Only 21 years old, the tall shortstop has already given rise to considerations that place him as the Reds' best shortstop prospect since the days of the immortal Barry Larkin.
Meanwhile, the veteran Castillo continues to dream of one day returning to the first level, an experience he lived for 99 games between 2014 and 2016.
It is true that Boston has Jackie Bradley, Andrew Benintendi, Kevin Pillar and the very promising Alex Verdugo in the fields (that is, not counting the powerful JD Martínez), but the Avilanian is experiencing a golden moment with the wood at the ready, summarized in nine undisputed in just 16 official shifts.
Another who finds the possibility of a comeback very difficult is Yasmany Tomás, who is not discouraged anyway and displays an offensive line of .364/.417/.636 with a home run.
In Arizona they barely gave him opportunities in 2019 despite bursting the ball in the Minors (29 home runs and 82 RBIs), and it is to be expected that now the team's outfield will be guarded by David Peralta, Starling Marte and Kole Calhoun... unless injuries appear.
The quintet of most outstanding Cubans is completed by one of the main contenders for Rookie of the Year in 2020, Five Tools Robert, who at the end of this month could begin to take full-time charge of the eighth shift of the White Sox lineup.
So far, Robert has an average of .389, an on-base percentage of .450 and a slugging percentage of .722, in addition to a double, a triple, a home run and three stolen bases.
Other Cubans who have achieved appreciable tasks in the preseason are shortstops José Iglesias (Orioles) and Alfredo Rodríguez (Reds), patrolman José Adolis García (Rangers) and first baseman Rangel Ravelo (Cardinals).
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