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The Cuban manager Víctor Mesa Jr. has achieved nine consecutive games with a hit in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls, the affiliate team of the Tampa Bay Rays, and his statistics place him among the top candidates to be called up to the Major League roster.
Since the streak began on April 2, Mesa Jr. has a batting average of .353, one home run, four runs batted in, and an OPS of .995, statistics that sports journalist Francys Romero deemed as a sign that "if he maintains this offensive pace, he will surely be among the first players to be promoted."
The peak of the streak occurred this Sunday, when the Cuban hit a home run to the opposite field in the eighth inning, giving Durham a 4-3 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
The day before, he had hit a double in the first game of a doubleheader against the same rival, and last Wednesday he had also hit a double and scored a run.
In the overall summary of the 2026 season, Mesa Jr. has a batting average of .290 in eight games, with four doubles, one home run, three runs batted in, and an OPS of .921 in 31 at-bats.
The Cuban arrived at the Tampa Bay organization on February 6, when the Miami Marlins designated him for assignment and the Rays acquired him in exchange for the 18-year-old infielder prospect Ángel Brachi.
It was activated with Durham on March 11 and has since been climbing the ranks in the organization's consideration, which views him as a versatile piece capable of covering all three outfield positions.
Mesa Jr. competes for a spot with Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, and Jake Fraley in the Rays' outfield, but his defensive versatility and ability to hit against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers set him apart within the team's 40-man roster.
The journey to this moment has not been easy for the son of the legendary Cuban baseball player Víctor Mesa. He signed with the Marlins in December 2018 for 5.75 million dollars as an international free agent, being one of the most sought-after Cuban prospects of his generation, but injuries—ankle and back in 2024, hamstrings in 2025—prevented him from playing more than 83 games in any season.
Finally, he made his Major League debut on May 27, 2025, hit his first home run in the majors on September 9 — the day of his 24th birthday — and ended the season with an average of .188 over 16 MLB games.
In Triple-A Jacksonville in 2025, he had showcased his potential with a line of .286/.352/.460, seven home runs, and 33 runs batted in over 52 games, numbers he now aims to surpass with Durham to eliminate any doubts about his readiness for the majors.
With nine consecutive games with a hit and an OPS close to 1.000, Mesa Jr. is experiencing the best offensive moment of his professional career just when he needs it most.
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