Cuban right-handed pitcher Marlon Vega signed with the Mayos de Navojoa for the 2023-24 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico regular season, Francys Romero of beisbolfr.com reported on Monday.
Vega, 21, was born in Mayabeque, Cuba, and was one of the seven players from Cuba, along with right-handed pitcher Edelvis Perez, outfielder Jordan Sanchez, right-handed pitcher Emmanuel Chapman, outfielder Roislandi Bell, outfielder Yoandri Guibert, and right-handed pitcher Kevin Mejia who were declared free agents by the Major League Baseball Commissioner’s Office, Romero reported on October 10.
Vega left Cuba in late July with Roger Bolanos, right-handed pitcher Yulian Quintana and right-handed pitcher Daviel Alvarez.
Vega and Alvarez also participated in an International Showcase in Merida, Mexico, during late September, Romero reported on August 10.
Vega played three seasons in Cuba, and was the Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and the league MVP in 2021-22 with the Huracanes de Mayabeque when the Serie Nacional played in the winter. Last winter, with the Portuarios for the first year of the Cuban Elite League in that league’s first season of play, Vega posted a 21-4 record with a 3.42 ERA and 16 saves, making eight starts and 69 appearances. Vega threw 179 innings, allowing 146 hits, 68 earned runs, 12 home runs, 103 walks, and striking out 146 batters with a 1.391 WHIP.
Vega pitched in the U-23 World Cup in Taiwan in October 2022 for the Cuban national team, making two appearances out of the bullpen and posting a 3.50 ERA, throwing six innings and allowing three hits, one double, three earned runs, walking one batter and striking out six.
Vega was also on the pre-selection roster for the Cuban national team prior to the start of the 2023 World Baseball Classic for their exhibition games in Japan and Taiwan.
According to Yusseff Diaz of Cuban Baseball Digest, “Vega throws in the low 90’s but combines good control with an array of breaking pitches and a hint of deceptiveness on the mound. He has a repertoire of pitches that include a fastball, cutter, slider, curve and a change-up.”
Mayos de Navojoa is in second place at 13-10 and are 2.5 games back of the first place Algodoneros de Guasave at 16-8. Mayos de Navojoa will play at home against fifth place Naranjeros de Hermosillo at 13-13 on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. EDT at Estadio Manuel Echeverria and will be streamed on https://www.extrabase.tv/home with a paid subscription.