Johneshwy Fargas of Saraperos de Saltillo celebrates a score during the fifth inning of playoff game on August 10, 2023 in Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo by Gonzalo Gonzalez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
On Monday, the Cangrejeros de Santurce of Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente announced the signing of four players for 2024-25.
Centerfielder Johneshwy Vargas, second baseman Jancarlos Cintron, catcher Juan Centeno, and catcher Ruben Castro have signed to join the club next season.
The San Francisco Giants drafted Vargas in the 11th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not make his MLB debut until 2021 with the New York Mets. The native of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, played 22 games with New York and the Chicago Cubs in 2021 but was released by the Mets in August 2022 after signing a minor league contract earlier in the year.
He played two games for Puerto Rico in the 2024 Caribbean Series and is currently playing for Saraperos de Saltillo of Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. He owns a career .671 OPS with 52 home runs in 12 professional baseball seasons.
Cintron played for Triple-A Reno in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and was selected by the National League West club in the 24th round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft—the 29-year-old hit .235 with one home run in 15 games with Arizona during spring training.
Cintron was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and played 38 games for the Criollos de Caguas during the 2023-24 LBPRC season.
Centeno is a seven-year MLB veteran, playing 118 games from 2013 to 19 for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. He struggled at the plate, hitting .223 with six home runs and a .601 OPS.
Like Vargas, Centeno plays for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the LMB and played 18 games for the Criollos de Caguas during the 2023-24 LBPRC season. He was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
The Houston Astros drafted Castro in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He played 40 games for the RA12 during the 2023-24 LBPRC season. Castro has experience with the Cangrejeros de Santurce, playing 30 games with the club between the 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2021-22 seasons.
Castro’s primary position is catcher, but he may see playing time at second base with Centeno strictly playing behind home plate. He has hit. 296 with 17 home runs in nine professional baseball seasons across all leagues and levels.
The Cangrejeros de Santurce finished the 2023-24 LBPRC regular season in first place, 25-15, but lost to the eventual champion Criollos de Caguas four games to one in the semifinals.
