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Cuban Infielder Set To Showcase Skills For MLB Teams

Jose M Fernandez - Cuban

Photo by: Alyson Boyer Rode

Cuban infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez, 27, will showcase his talents for major league teams on February 3, in the Dominican Republic.

Fernandez left Cuba earlier in the month of December after playing in eight seasons for the Matanzas in Cuba’s National Series. In that span he batted .319, with 37 home runs, and 318 RBI’s in 608 games.

His last full season on the diamond, was during the 2013-2014 season, when he hit .326, with 65 walks and 10 strikeouts in 314 plate appearances. In October 2014, just a few weeks into the 2014-2015 season, he was suspended for attempting to leave the country.

The Cuban native is a very good contact hitter that rarely strikes out, as seen by his career numbers in the Cuban National Series (113 K’s in 2,580 career plate app).

“I will give my best and show how we play in Cuba. I’m ready. I’ve been training every day and now it will be my time. I’m excited”, Fernandez told Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com,

Baseball America on Fernandez:

Fernandez is a major league-ready infielder with a short, quick swing from the left side, excellent bat control and stellar plate discipline.

With his bat-to-ball skills and ability to manage the strike zone, Fernandez is a potential high OBP threat in the major leagues, although his power is below-average. Speed isn’t part of Fernandez’s game, and his thickening lower half (listed at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds) has hampered his range at second base, where he’s at best an adequate defender. Fernandez also spent time at third base during the 2013-14 season, though his arm strength is better suited at second.

If all goes well for Fernandez in his showcase, he will surely join the nearly 300 Cuban ball players that have reached the majors before him. Another star is on the horizon.

 

David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.

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