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The Cuban pitcher Alejandro Hernández Castro has been activated by the Sultanes de Monterrey to join the team's bullpen as a reliever, after starting the 2026 season of the Mexican Baseball League with the affiliate team Algodoneros de San Luis Río Colorado.
The activation of the Havana right-hander after 25 years took place on Friday, May 2, as reported by Milenio, during the weekend series against the Charros de Jalisco.
Castro arrived on the main roster backed by a strong performance in the minor league: five innings pitched, no earned runs allowed, seven strikeouts, and one win.
To make room for the Cuban player on the active roster, the Monterrey organization released Japanese outfielder Louis Okoye, who played in two games with the team without getting a hit in six at-bats, recording two strikeouts.
Castro had been assigned to the Algodoneros on April 14, when the Sultanes finalized their roster of 32 players to start the season.
His rise to the main team is joined by the presence of other Cuban players on the roster of the Fantasmas Grises, including Alexis Vera, Gerónimo Franzúa, and Yohander Méndez.
The presence of Cuban baseball players in the LMB has notably increased in recent years, and the Mexican league has established itself as one of the most common professional destinations for players leaving the island.
Among the active Cubans in the 2026 season are Óscar Luis Colás, who signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo, and Dayron Miranda, who joined the Dorados de Chihuahua.
Castro's activation comes at a time of strong collective performance for the Sultanes, managed by Roberto Kelly.
The team from Monterrey leads the North Zone with a record of 10-4, after winning four of the first series played in the 2026 season, which started on April 17.
The Sultanes are also awaiting the return of outfielder José Cardona, who is in the final stages of a rehabilitation program for an injury to his right foot, which adds urgency to the team's roster moves.
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