Víctor Manuel Denis is training at the Alex Sánchez Academy, while Richard Bouquet is with Bailli Baseball.
14ymedio, Havana, July 30, 2026 — The abandonment of baseball players from Cuba shows no sign of slowing down. Between Monday and Wednesday, 21-year-old Víctor Manuel Denis and 17-year-old Richard Bouquet flew to the Dominican Republic, where they will pursue opportunities to sign with a Major League Baseball (MLB) team in the United States.
Denis’ case has attracted the most attention. Last year, the Guantánamo native was left off Cuba’s Under-23 national team that won the bronze medal at the Pan American Baseball Championship. He was not selected despite posting a .440 batting average and finishing among the top four hitters in total hits during the tournament, as journalist Pavel Otero pointed out at the time. “I have no doubt that the other outfielders selected have good numbers, but we shouldn’t leave the player from Guantánamo at home when he produced just as well,” Otero said.
Journalist Francys Romero reported that Denis will continue developing his skills at the academy run by former Major League player Alex Sánchez. The academy is also home to Cuban players Oliver Monteagudo and Alex Batista, who also chose to leave Cuban baseball.
According to Romero, Denis “is an athletic outfielder who runs the 60-yard dash in 6.3 seconds. He is a contact hitter with strong defensive skills and power.”
Other players who have trained at the Alex Sánchez Academy have gone on to sign professional contracts, including Jordan Pérez, who signed with the San Diego Padres for a $300,000 bonus, and Kevin Álvarez, who signed with the Houston Astros for a $2 million bonus. In addition, José Junior Muñiz and Cristhian Lías are reportedly close to agreements with organizations such as the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bouquet will train at Bailli Baseball. “With a couple of months of work, he will probably improve his tools and be close to turning professional by signing with a Major League franchise,” Romero estimated.
The Holguín native represented Cuba at the 2025 U18 World Cup and throws between 90 and 91 miles per hour.
Last July, this newspaper reported that four Cuban baseball players between the ages of 17 and 19 achieved their dream of signing with Major League Baseball organizations in the United States. Rodelvis Santiesteban signed with the Chicago Cubs and received a $20,000 signing bonus.
César Morales reached an agreement with the New York Mets. The pitcher left Cuba in June of last year after previously playing for Cuba’s Under-17 national team.
In early June, Jonathan Torres reached an agreement with the Baltimore Orioles for the current international signing period. Meanwhile, catcher Andy González signed with the Houston Astros on May 30 in the Dominican Republic.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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