Other three prospects left Cuba to sign with MLB teams, per sources
I ranked Eugenio Rodríguez as the #1 prospect in Cuba among the U-18 players in 2022.
Three prospects have left Cuba in the last few hours, sources confirmed to Béisbol FR.
They have arrived in the Dominican Republic and are aiming to sign with an MLB organization in the near future.
The players are infielder Eugenio Rodríguez, outfielder Osniel Castillo, and right-handed pitcher Dayron Nuñez. Rodríguez and Castillo participated in international tournaments with Cuba, while Nuñez, a 6’3” pitcher with great potential, has been throwing his fastball in the 90-93 MPH range.
Two years ago, I ranked Rodríguez as the #1 prospect in my list of the top 25 U-18 talents in Cuba for 2022. That same list included players who have since left the country and signed with MLB organizations, like Luis Rives (Astros), Francis Texidor (Angels), Yadier Batista (Cardinals), and Rafael Álvarez (White Sox).
Rodríguez showcased significant power at the U-15 level in 2019, setting a home run record with 9. He later joined the Cuban U-18 team for the Pan-American Championship in La Paz, Mexico. He has been gaining more muscle mass, and I believe he could settle in as a primary third baseman.
He made his debut in Cuba’s National Series with Granma in 2023, but he didn’t receive enough playing time to continue developing. Still, I think that, despite the lost time, he remains an intriguing prospect. Now 20 years old, Rodríguez is a hitter with power and contact, who was projected to be a 20-HR, .280-AVG hitter in previous years.
Another promising talent who just left Cuba is Osniel Castillo, the fastest runner among Cuba’s U-18 class in 2024.
Castillo, 18, led the most recent U-18 National Championship in stolen bases with 11.
He also participated in a tryout in Cuba for professional teams from Mexico, Venezuela, and Japan, where he posted a 6.2-second 60-yard dash and threw 92 MPH from the outfield. Castillo is an athlete showing more consistency in his offense, and if he adds power to his swing, I believe he has a strong chance to make it into the MLB system.
The final player of the trio is right-handed pitcher Dayron Nuñez. At 6’3”, Nuñez shows excellent projection and is likely to attract MLB interest. His fastball has been sitting in the 88-92 MPH range, though he needs to improve his command in the strike zone.
Nuñez played for Guantánamo in the 2023 and 2024 National Series and for Matanzas in the 2023 Elite League. He will train at the academy of renowned Cuban coach Yuan Pino.
Meanwhile, Rodríguez and Castillo will begin training at Ozuna’s facility in Santo Domingo.