MLB News: Mets Reach Agreement With Cuban Prospect: Report

The New York Mets have their hands full with the National League Championship Series. They’re currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers at one game apiece with the best-of-seven series shifting to New York on Wednesday.

The Mets host the Dodgers in the 5 p.m. game at Citi Field.

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Meanwhile, the Mets’ amateur scouting department is hard at work. According to Francys Romero, they have reached an agreement with Cuban prospect Yoandri Gonzalez. The right-handed pitcher is expected to make the contract official in the days to come.

According to Romero, Gonzalez left Cuba in 2022 and was trained by another former Cuban baseball prospect, Yoelny Vera. Romero reports the 19-year-old pitcher boasts a fastball at 93-94 mph and a “solid slider.”

According to his profile from the 2022 Future Stars Caribbean Classic, Gonzalez is 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds. One report from that same year said Gonzalez’s fastball was clocked at speeds up to 95 mph as a 17-year-old.

A native of Artemisa, Gonzalez would become the first native of his home province to reach the majors since the communist revolution dramatically halted Cubans’ presence in the major leagues beginning in the 1960s.

Merito Acosta played 180 games for the Washington Senators and Philadelphia Athletics from 1911-18. Pitcher Adrián Zabala appeared in 26 games for the New York Giants across the 1945 and 1949 seasons.

The Mets have employed a notable contingent of Cuban players over the years.

Rey Ordoñez won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards at shortstop from 1997-99, and set a major league record by playing 101 consecutive games at the position without committing an error.

Yoenis Cespedes hit 76 home runs over parts of four seasons with the Mets (2016-2020), making the National League All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger award in 2016.

Coincidentally, Cespedes is scheduled to take part in a ceremonial first pitch, along with 2015 teammate Matt Harvey, with the Mets hosting the Dodgers at Citi Field this week. The 2015 season marked the Mets’ last run to the World Series.

Current Mets shortstop Jose Iglesias is also a native of Havana. The 34-year-old has electrified fans with his glovework at shortstop and a surprising .337 batting average in 85 regular season games in his first year on the team.

Off the field, Iglesias has used his fame to further his recording career. His single “OMG” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Latin Digital Song Sales survey on July 20.

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