The gardener Víctor Manuel Denis, 21 years old and originally from Guantánamo, recently left Cuba and is now in the Dominican Republic with the aim of signing with a Major League organization, according to specialized journalist Francys Romero.
Denis arrives in the Dominican Republic with athletic credentials that have caught the attention of scouts: he stands 6'2", runs 60 yards in 6.3 seconds, and combines solid defense in the outfield with contact hitting and power.
His most notable performance was in the Cuban National Sub-23 Championship, where he recorded an impressive batting average of .440, a remarkable figure for any competitive level.
However, despite that performance, the Cuban regime left him out of the national team that participated in the 2025 Pan American U-23 Championship in Panama, where Cuba won the bronze medal.
Denis's exclusion from that call-up, despite being one of the most productive hitters in the internal tournament, may have influenced his decision to seek opportunities outside the island.
Currently, Denis is joining the Academia Sánchez in the Dominican Republic, one of the most active centers in the training and representation of Cuban prospects, from where he will seek to showcase himself to the scouts of MLB franchises.
That same academy served as a platform for Cristian Rego, another Cuban prospect who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for $300,000 in April of this year.
Denis's departure is part of a continuing trend throughout 2026: prior to him, Anyelo Fleitas arrived in the Dominican Republic in March for the same purpose, and in May pitcher Luis Manuel Hurtado also left Cuba in search of a professional contract.
The route through third countries remains the only available option for Cuban ballplayers, as there is no current agreement between MLB and the Cuban Baseball Federation that allows for direct contracts from the island.
The Dominican Republic has established itself as the preferred destination due to its infrastructure of academies, the constant presence of scouts, and its geographical proximity to the United States.
Denis also appeared on the roster of the Guantánamo team for the 64th National Baseball Series 2025-2026, where he played as a left and center fielder, confirming that he was regarded as part of the Cuban competitive circuit before his departure.
In the 2026 MLB season, a record of 26 Cuban players was registered in the opening rosters, a figure that reflects the wealth of talent that the island continues to export to professional baseball despite the regime's restrictions.
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