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 sports journalist Francys Romero.
Denis arrives in Dominican territory with athletic credentials that have piqued the interest of evaluators: he stands 6'2", runs the 60 yards in 6.3 seconds and combines solid defense in the outfield with contact hitting and power.
His most outstanding performance was in the National Under-23 Championship of Cuba, where he recorded a batting average of .440, an impressive 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 earned 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 Sánchez Academy in the Dominican Republic, one of the most active centers for training and representing Cuban prospects, from where he will seek to showcase his talents to MLB franchise scouts.
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 sustained trend throughout 2026: before him, Anyelo Fleitas arrived in the Dominican Republic in March with the same goal, and in May pitcher Luis Manuel Hurtado also left Cuba in search of a professional contract.
The route through third countries remains the only option available for Cuban players, 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 considered part of the Cuban competitive circuit prior to his departure.
In the 2026 MLB season, a record of 26 Cuban players was recorded in the opening day 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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