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The specialized site Pelota Cubana USA presented its Top 30 list of Cuban prospects in Minor Leagues this Wednesday, the first ranking of its kind dedicated exclusively to Cuban talent in the development system of the Major Leagues (MLB).
Until now, Cuba did not have a structured, specific, and regularly updated classification of its prospects in Major League Baseball, a tool that coaches, media specialists, and fans needed to closely track the island's talent within MLB organizations.
The list was created by the editorial team of the publication with the support of more than a dozen scouts, including evaluators from the international sector and professional baseball.
To create it, approximately 150 active Cuban players in minor leagues were analyzed, prioritizing individual tools, projection, and competitive context, based on standards similar to those used in official Major League evaluations.
The ranking includes players up to 27 years old, applying the same criteria used in the major rankings of professional baseball prospects.
After extensive research, the 30 names are Lázaro Montes, Kendry Rojas, Kevin Álvarez, Diego Tornes, Silvano Hechavarría, Yandel Ricardo, Yunior Tur, Jaims Martínez, Lisbel Díaz, and Jordan Sánchez. Also included are José Cerice, Joniel Hernández, Franco Alemán, Víctor Mesa Jr., Félix Arronde, and Jaider Suárez, featuring a mix of players already established at high levels in the minor leagues and young talents recently signed with great potential.
The list is completed with Alejandro Cruz, Yobal Rodríguez, Leonardo Sevilla, Daviel Hurtado, Rubén Gallego, Andy Pérez, Raynel Delgado, Miguel Flores, Víctor Labrada, Ernesto Martínez Jr., César Prieto, Lázaro Estrada, Adriano Marrero, and Luis Manuel León.
Several of them have already gained experience at the highest level, while others are still solidifying their positions in Class A, Double A, or Triple A.
One of the most followed players is the outfielder Montes from the Seattle Mariners, regarded by scouts as one of the most powerful hitters among current Cuban prospects, with an exit velocity recorded at 104.8 mph and a power potential rated at 70 degrees.
Also standing out is the catcher Edgar Quero from the Chicago White Sox, who is currently in his second season in MLB, and third baseman Bryan Ramos, both with real chances of making a name for themselves in Major League Baseball in the near future.
Another prominent name is that of the pitcher Luis Danys Morales of the Athletics, who returned to the Major Leagues this week after being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.
In the same way, César Prieto returned to MLB last Monday with the St. Louis Cardinals, after posting an average of .311 in Triple-A during the 2026 season.
The ranking will not be static; instead, it will serve as a "snapshot in time," with scheduled updates three times a year: after the first month of the season, after the All-Star Game, and at the end of the campaign.
The ranking arrives at a time of increasing Cuban presence in the demanding U.S. professional system: Cuba holds the fourth place among countries with the most representatives in MLB, trailing only behind the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, and 41 players born on the island signed contracts with Major League organizations during the 2024-2025 period.
This constant flow of talent, largely fueled by the ongoing exodus of Cuban baseball players from the island in search of professional opportunities, is precisely what justifies the existence of a specialized ranking like the one recently launched by Pelota Cubana USA.
"Several names remained on the edge of the list, reflecting the depth and growth of Cuban talent in the minor leagues," the publication highlighted.
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