Panthers load up on Cuban pitchers
KITCHENER — The Kitchener Panthers will feature three veteran Cuban pitchers this season as they reload for an Intercounty Baseball League that’s increasingly relying on imported players.
Returning for his third season is righthander Noelvis Entenza, 32, who was a seven-game winner and overall workhorse for the Panthers last summer.
Also back is all-star shortstop Yorbis Borroto, one of the league’s best infielders in 2017, who batted .389 and had 56 hits in 34 games.
Two new pitchers, 33-year-old Miguel Lahera and 39-year-old Yonder Martinez, will round out the Cuban imports.
Lahera is a hard-throwing, burly middle reliever who pitched for Trois Rivieres in the Can Am League last season.
Martinez, famous for pitching with a toothpick in his mouth, is a soft-tossing finesse pitcher with five pitches at his disposal. He’s expected to be a starter for the Panthers.
The focus on more imported pitching came after the Panthers were swept in the finals last season.
Cuban backstop Yulexis La Rosa, who performed admirably a year ago, will be replaced behind the plate by Kitchener’s Mike Gordner. And the return of Borroto means former shortstop Mike Glinka will shift over to third base.
“We decided with pitching being so critical, we’d focus on three top pitchers and use a Canadian catcher,” said Mike Boehmer, the Panthers director who orchestrated the deal in Havana.
“We came to Cuba with a list of about five or six pitchers that we wanted, and we’re very happy with the two that we got.”
Lahera, who’s used as both as starter and reliever for Artemisa in the Cuban league, can fill a similar swing-man role in Kitchener, Boehmer said.
Lahera has a durable arm, and like the three others has played for Cuba’s national team.
Martinez and his toothpicks, meanwhile, should arrive with the rest of the Cubans in early May, once visas are issued.
Boehmer said the toothpick thing is just part of the wily veteran’s quirks.
“That’s what he’s always done, so obviously he’s a bit of a character,” he said.
Brampton’s Jasvir Rakkar, the former Chicago Cubs prospect who had an 2.27 ERA for the Panthers last season, will be a key part of the starting rotation again.
The Panthers, who despite the imports, say they have more local players than any other team in the league, are reloading as more teams in the IBL turn to imported players to strengthen their rosters.
The resurrected Guelph Royals will bring in five imports from the Dominican Republic — pitchers Yunior Juan Yambatis, Yomar Flande Concepcion, Jorge Luis De La Cruz Paez and Edwin Adon Javier, and infielder Narciso Avila Padilla.
They were picked by new manager Dave teBoekhorst and owner Shawn Fuller during a scouting trip this winter.
The Brantford Red Sox have signed three Dominicans, including right-hander Euclides Leyer, shortstop Ordomar Valdez — and a left-handed pitcher named Jose Bautista. No, not that Jose Bautista.
Burlington has also loaded up on imports, including former Kansas City Royals draft picks Jeremy Gwinn and Clay Miller, Washington’s Derik Bontempo and Hawaiian outfielder Jensen Park, a former Colorado Rockies draft pick.
While Toronto and Hamilton focused on domestic players, Barrie and London are expected to be staffed with imported help.
The 100th season of the IBL starts May 6 in Barrie.
The Panthers’ first home game will be Sunday, May 13 against the London Majors at 2 p.m. at Jack Couch Park.