Yordanis Alarcón, the most emblematic player of the Leñadores de Las Tunas, has been left out of the team's roster for the 65th National Baseball Series for a reason unrelated to the sport: he has been waiting for over five years for the provincial authorities to resolve the exchange of his home, and since he did not agree with the proposal they offered him, he decided not to join the green-red team.
The provincial baseball commissioner, José Luis Rodríguez Pérez, confirmed the situation in a press conference on September 16 at the Julio Antonio Mella stadium, where the preliminary roster of 32 players was presented.
According to the executive, Alarcón "was waiting for a swap of his residence and did not agree with the proposal made by the local authorities."
According to the sports journalist Pavel Otero, the baseball player had been promised a property that met all the decent conditions for living.
However, it seems that house changed owners, and then they offered him "a place with four walls in very bad condition."
"He is requesting this because the location and height of his home are causing serious health problems for his family. His wife has already lost two pregnancies due to the stairs. Therefore, he needs to live on the ground floor for the stability and happy upbringing of their future children, as well as for his wife's health," Otero emphasized.
The case illustrates a reality that impacts millions of Cubans: the chronic housing deficit and the limitations of the swapping system, which is one of the few mechanisms available for changing residence on the island.
The fact that a figure of Alarcón's stature, with 24 seasons defending the tunero colors, has been unable to resolve his situation in five years speaks for itself.
Alarcón made his debut with Las Tunas in the 40th National Series (2000-2001) and is a key player in the team's championships in Series 58 (2019), 62 (2023), and 63 (2024), as well as the runner-up finishes in Series 57 (2018) and 64 (2025).
In December 2025, he reached 2,000 hits in Cuban tournaments, becoming the second player from Las Tunas to achieve this, with a cumulative line of .308/.350/.416, over 2,083 hits, 318 doubles, 118 home runs, and 1,020 RBIs.
The bench coach, Ángel Sosa, acknowledged the impact of the loss: "We will need to function more as a team to not feel Yordanis' absence. We need to improve in several aspects of the game to score runs."
Alongside Alarcón, the pitcher Yoelkis Cruz Jr., who requested his release to care for his mother, and Leandro Cañada, who does not meet the physical parameters following an injury, will also not be present.
As a counterbalance, the return of outfielder Yunieski Larduet from Mexico and the addition of infielder Henry Quintero provide options for an offense that will need to reinvent itself.
In light of the loss of the power factor represented by Alarcón, the coaching staff led by Abeyci Pantoja is focusing on speed on the bases and the construction of runs as a central strategy.
The team has an average age of 26 years and arrives at Series 65 as the runner-up of Cuba.
The 65th National Series will kick off on October 4 with a new zonal format; Las Tunas is in Group C of the eastern zone alongside Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, and Camagüey.
Despite the losses, Commissioner Rodríguez Pérez expressed confidence: "This is a team that knows how to rise to the occasion. We are trusting in what we want, and we are sure that the Leñadores will continue to fight."
The situation of Alarcón is not the only one among players. This year, it also came to light that Yadián Martínez, the main pitcher for the Mayabeque Hurricanes, has been waiting for several years for a home that provincial authorities promised him but never completed.
Six years ago, he was granted a plot of land to build his house, but the photographs accompanying the publication show a concrete block structure without a roof, with weeds growing inside, exposed iron rods, and no doors or windows: a stalled project that is not progressing.
Related videos:
Filed under: