Another intriguing outfielder option is about to hit the free-agent market. Yadiel Hernandez, who defected from Cuba in June 2015 when his team was visiting North Carolina, announced he will make himself available in a personal showcase for all interested Major League Baseball teams Feb. 23. It will happen in Mexico City.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, who says that Hernandez is waiting for MLB to clear his free-agent status, broke the news. Hernandez will be exempt from international bonus pool restrictions -- which should increase the bidding for his services.
Hernandez, 28, was ranked by Baseball America in April as the No. 16 overall player in Cuba. In 2014, he batted .369 with a 1.045 OPS with seven home runs and 30 extra-base hits in 369 plate appearances for Matanzas in the Cuban National Series. His .509 on-base percentage came on the strength of drawing 77 walks in 85 games. For his career, Hernandez is a .324/.449/.487 hitter. He's described as a "corner" outfielder.
Check out video of Hernandez getting on base:
Hernandez's role with his CNS team has expanded recently, Baseball America notes, with all of the players leaving Cuba for a chance at the major leagues in continental North America:
Hernandez makes five players ranked among Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban player rankings from April who have left the country. Righthander Norge Ruiz (No. 8), infielder/outfielder Randy Arozarena (No. 9), righthander Yaisel Sierra (No. 13) and outfielder Yusnier Diaz (No. 17) have also left the country to pursue a major league contract.
And that doesn't count 32-year-old star Alexei Bell, who reportedly left Cuba legally recently.
The free-agent market still already a glut of big names -- including Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Dexter Fowler. Here's a quick look at the remaining outfielders in free agency:
Cespedes
Upton
Fowler
Austin Jackson
Will Venable
Marlon Byrd
Chris Denorfia
David Murphy
Matt Joyce
Steve Pearce
Alex Rios
Jeff Francoeur
Nate McLouth
Skip Schumaker
Grady Sizemore
Drew Stubbs
Shane Victorino
