Armando Guirola is a Cuban American working hard to get the recognition he deserves. The outfielder plays at the College of Central Florida, a JUCO school, and is entering his red-shirt sophomore year. Guirola, 20, takes great pride in representing Cuba since he was born there.
“For me, playing baseball is not just a sport, it is a way to connect with my roots and honor my country,” Guirola told World Baseball Network. “Representing Cubans is an immense pride, it is carrying in my heart the passion and sacrifice for my people and demonstrating in every game the strength and talent that exists in Cuba.”
Guirola has fond memories of watching Cuban stars and wanting to follow in their footsteps. When he was seven years old, his grandfather took him to practices and games in Cuba, and they had to walk since they didn’t have a car. Baseball has always been a big part of Guirola’s life.
“In Cuba, my family has always been very close, but unfortunately, in my country, the opportunities are few, and the future and dreams of many children are not fulfilled because of the system,” Guirola said.
Guirola’s father moved to Florida when he was ten years old, and one year later, Guirola and his entire family followed him.
“When I arrived, it was a little difficult for me to adapt since my English at that time was not that good, but I always had a firm vision of being a baseball player,” Guirola said.
Guirola was worried he wouldn’t be able to play baseball because of the language barrier, but when he was 13 years old, his parents signed him up for 7-tools Baseball Academy in Kissimmee, Florida.
Guirola credits that academy with giving him the foundational tools he needed to be a successful baseball player. He also credits his coaches at the academy, Javier Taboas and Nestor Huerta, and his family for their dedication and sacrifice, which allowed him to pursue baseball fully. Guirola will always be grateful for his time at the 7-tools Baseball Academy.
“My greatest strength as a baseball player is hitting since I have great strength and contact, but I would say that my greatest strength is having a family who trusts me and gives me great positivity since without them, I would do nothing,” Guirola told World Baseball Network.
In 2022, Guirola broke out in his senior year at TNXL Academy, one of the best baseball programs in Florida. He hit leadoff all season and led the team with a .386 batting average. Guirola runs a 6.6 60-yard dash and throws 95 MPH from the outfield.
“At that time, all the scouts were crazy about me, but they didn’t know who Armando Guirola was,” Guirola said.
He took a red-shirt year in 2023. In 2024, Guirola put together a nice season for the College of Central Florida with five home runs, 26 RBI, and one triple in 115 at-bats. His batting average was .270, and his OPS was .830.
Guirola also feels his strength, power, and mental side of his game are all positive attributes. He is the first baseball player in his family, making it harder for him to be recognized by MLB scouts.
“Something that I should improve to be selected is to have a good performance at the right time and be able to show what I am made of,” Guirola said. “I just need someone to help me make my name known, which, because I’m on a very unrecognized team, I never had the opportunity.”
