The right-handed pitcher, Lemay Portal, a 20-year-old from Cuba, left Cuba in recent days and is now in Mexico, where, according to specialized sources, he wants to sign a contract with a major league organization.
Portal, another pitcher with experience in the recent Cuban National Series, will “begin a period of preparation in Mexico to perform beforehand and scout the MLB,” journalist Francys Romero reported on his website Beisbol FR.
According to the reporter, Portal is represented by ThOr Representaciones, “The same agency that managed companies like that of Loidel Chappelli Jr. and Earle Rafael Zulueta“.
“His body type and athleticism are outstanding, and he is a pitcher who has covered more than 90 miles. Portal is only 20 years old and was completed in February 2023. It has the potential to be impactful,” Romero said.
The journalist believed that the next step would be to “apply for free agency and qualify for a contract within the MLB system.”
In the 62nd National Series, Portal joined the Mayabeque Hurricanes team, with whom he pitched 5.2 innings and posted a 4.76 ERA.
Portal joins a group of National Series pitchers who have left the country with the intention of pursuing a professional contract in 2023.
“Arms like those of Emmanuel Chapman from Holguín, two young people from Camagüey and three pitchers from Mayabeque have emigrated in the last few months,” Romero recalled, quoting Marlon Vega, Yulián Quintana and Roger Bolañosfrom the western province.
The escape of Cuban baseball players cannot be stopped. One of the most accomplished receivers on the current national scene, the man from Sancti Spiritus Yunior Ibarra joined the ranks of the Exodus and did not return to Cuba following the conclusion of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) season in Canada, as reported last Friday.
The new interested parties were confirmed this week Eduardo Mustelier, only 11 years olda player on the U12 team, came to the Dominican Republic after leaving Cuba.
Another talented new baseball player, Alejandro Cruz, just 16 years old, left the country He will also travel to the Dominican Republic, where he will attempt to sign with a Major League (MLB) organization. Cruz was named the 2022 Pan American U-15 Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Venezuela.
The constant exodus of players has affected the quality of Cuban baseball.
In March, shortly after the World Classic, the Cuban team finished seventh in the rankings with 3,151 points, in a list of 36 teams led by Japan (with 5,323 points), the United States (4,402) and Mexico (4,130).
In mid-August, new rankings from the World Baseball and Softball Confederation showed Cuba had fallen one place. Your 2,880 points They placed them in eighth placefollowed by the Netherlands (3,187) and Venezuela (3,744).
