The Cuban Contingent
The Dodgers’ biggest international signing of the offseason, Yaisel Sierra, made his professional debut on Saturday with the Quakes, and showed glimpses of why the club signed him for $30 million, striking out seven batters in four innings of work.
However, he allowed three runs on six hits, including a home run, and issued two walks. After reportedly touching 100 mph prior to signing, Sierra largely sat in the low 90s in his debut.
His slider was his bread and butter, as he located it fairly well and got a good number of swings and misses. It’s just Sierra’s first start of what should be a lengthy career, so don’t put too much stock into it.
Sierra’s Quakes teammate, outfielder Yusniel Diaz, began the season with an aggressive assignment to High-A. When I saw him in Spring Training, Diaz looked unsure at the plate, sending most of the balls he put in play to the second baseman.
That carried over to the first week of the season, as he went 1-for-his-first-17. However, a road trip to Lake Elsinore and Lancaster turned him around and he’s since gone 15-for-38 with three triples and three home runs.
Just 19 years old, Diaz is one of the youngest players in the California League and there will surely be more bumps in the road, but his quick turnaround is definitely worth praising.
In Low-A, Omar Estevez, the youngest Cuban of the bunch, has struggled with his assignment thus far. The infielder is batting just .234 with a .572 OPS in his first 17 games. Granted, the Midwest League is hell on hitters and cold April games in Michigan and the greater Midwest are hard on anyone, let alone young players who are accustomed to a warmer climate.
Hopefully, as the weather warms up, so does his bat. Cuban right-hander Yadier Alvarez was seen in Arizona recently, touching the usual 97 with his fastball, though it appears he’s simply staying in extended Spring Training to work out the kinks rather than to rehab an injury. The 20 year old still needs work commanding his arsenal but could head out to an affiliate this month.
CONTINUE READING: Checking in on Cody Bellinger and other injured prospects
