The young Cuban Jonathan Moreno was presented this Wednesday as a player for the SoftBank Falcons, to begin his experience with the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB) as part of the Fukuoka City franchise team in the farm system.
The 18-year-old from Villa Clara, already with experience in National Baseball Series (SNB) He appeared before the specialized press after the ceremony reviewed through the club’s social networks.
ATTENTION!
The SoftBank Falcons today introduced prospect Jonathan Moreno, who will join the organization’s player development program on a minor league contract. pic.twitter.com/rlEalsNTAY— Japanese Baseball.com (@beisboljapones) January 14, 2026
From now on, Moreno will complete the process of adapting to a more demanding baseball with the aspiration of being promoted to the main team of the Halcones, which several players from the island have gone through thanks to contracts protected by the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS).
The talented shortstop joined the current champions of the Japanese professional circuit after an agreement that guaranteed him a bonus of 100 thousand dollars, and in the second level of the team he will share with his fellow pitcher Darío Sarduy.
The Halcones have among their main references the pitcher from Pinar del Río, Liván Moinelo, who leads their staff of starters and was chosen as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Pacific League.
With his arrival to Japanese lands, Moreno becomes the first position player to join the successful club, since the departure of stars Yurisbel Gracial and Alfredo Despaigne.
Seven Cuban players will play the next professional season in Japan
Awesome World Cup
The excellent performance in the most recent World Championship of the under-18 category, held in Japan, was decisive for Moreno to awaken the interest of the Halcones management.
In that tournament he consumed 23 official at-bats and posted an offensive average of .348, with four RBIs and the same number of stolen bases. That performance, plus impressive defensive performances, underpinned his inclusion in the All-Star Team of the tournament, and emerged as strong arguments for the signing of the contract.
Before his departure, Moreno ventured with the Villa Clara team this season, an experience that consolidated him as one of the most important prospects who remains linked to baseball on the island.
In the main Cuban competition, and according to official statistics, the shortstop compiled an average of .270, the product of 38 hits in 141 visits to the batter’s box.
In addition, he drove in 24 runs and scored 22, largely thanks to the three home runs and eight doubles recorded in his locker.
