MIAMI, United States. — Iván Prieto González, bullpen catcher for the Cuban team who participated in the fifth World Baseball Classic and who left the team before returning to Havana, he already has a representative to launch his career as a professional, reported today The New Herald.
According to that medium, the player is now officially part of the Leona Sports company, an entity that specializes in Latino baseball players.
Led by certified agent Lisette Carnet and agent Carlos Pérez, Leona Sports has several Cuban players among its clients and they will seek to help Iván Prieto in the difficult path of free agency.
The New Herald It is reported that it was Prieto himself, 29, who contacted the agents, who will now begin to evaluate his situation and prepare him for eventual demonstrations before the talent evaluators of the different baseball circuits.
Although the Cuban catcher could be seen by scouts from Major League Baseball organizations, he would also have options to be eligible for teams in the Mexican, Caribbean and even Asian circuits.
A native of the province of Holguín, Iván Prieto was chosen as bullpen catcher by the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) after the roster that would represent the island in the baseball contest was announced.
He was the only player who officially left the island’s delegation, a fact that happened after Team Asere’s defeat against the United States with a score of 14 runs to two.
The catcher played eight seasons in Cuba with teams from Holguín and Granma. His last presentation was in the so-called Elite League with the Farmers team.
Throughout his career in Cuba, Prieto hit a .287 batting average, with 36 doubles, one triple and 17 home runs. Plus, he drove in 129 runs and scored 118. His offensive line is .376/.390/.766.
