ANOTHER LOSS IN MATANZAS: Medina goes to play in Europe

By José Alejandro Rodríguez Zas

The team of the Cocodrilos de Matanzas is always news in Cuban baseball, either because of their actions on or off the field, rumors of “imported” players, returning legionaries or even doubts in their leadership, as has happened in the last few days with former Avilanian manager Roger Machado.

Roger was linked to the Crocodiles for the 61st edition of the National Series, according to information offered in the “Deportitiva” space of Radio Rebelde, which was cleared by the current manager Armando Ferrer, and even Machado himself gave his version of events.

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However, despite this situation, the Matanzas team causes headlines today for a interview conducted Ferrer himself for the provincial media TV Yumuri, in which the manager talks about the preparation of the Yumuri team for the next baseball campaign and some casualties that the current Cuban runners-up will have to deal with.

Ferrer clarified in the interview that the team’s preparation will begin on Monday, November 1 and will last for 11 weeks. “We are going to have two introductory weeks, as was done in Series 60, with work in the sand on the beach,” he specified.

“We have many affectations with our athletes who are abroad, some fulfilling contracts with the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) and others who play in independent leagues such as Yadir Drake”, added the director from Yumurino, before revealing another low for Series 61, which until now had not been made public.

«In the infield, (Aníbal) Medina was signed a contract that he will have in Spain and initially, we are not going to have either (Erisbel) Arruebarruena or (Yadil) Mujica, so we have to make up for these casualties sensitive with other athletes ”, Ferrer specified.

In this way, fans of Cuban baseball and the Cocodrilos team can now add Aníbal Medina to the long list of casualties that the ball will have on the Island for the next National Series, due to different reasons: casualties, departures from the country , contracts abroad authorized or not by the FCB, among others.

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Medina, a native of the province of Villa Clara but who has played his entire career in Cuba with the Yumurinos, has experience in 12 domestic campaigns as an infielder, in which he averages a good .293 (2010-588) with 89 doubles, 16 triples and 40 home runs, plus 265 RBIs and 417 runs scored. His offensive line is .382 / .412 / .794 (OBP / SLG / OPS).

From a defensive point of view, Medina is a good player and very versatile in different infield positions, averaging for .974, due to 75 errors in 2905 sets, with 390 double-play appearances, in addition to 1543 assists and 1287 outs. made.

According reported On the Cubalite.com website on the subject, it is not yet known in which team or league in Spain Medina would be playing, but «it is almost certain that it will be in the Division of Honor, the main circuit of that nation, that he must start his upcoming contest in April 2022 ».

In the interview with Ferrer, the experienced manager did not elaborate on this issue, but he did make Matanzas’ goal clear for Series 61.

«To return to retain the title of the 59 Series, we have no other alternative. Our team will continue fighting and will provide a good show for its people, “he said.