Carlos Viera of Team Cuba pitches at the bottom of the 3rd inning during the World Baseball Classic exhibition game between Cuba and Rakuten Monkeys at Douliu Baseball Stadium on March 5, 2023 in Douliu, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
Cuban pitcher Carlos Viera will play for the Conspiradores de Querétaro in their inaugural season in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, Ariel Santa Cruz of Pelota Cubana USA reported on December 18.
Viera, 35, born in La Habana, Cuba, has played in four international senior events this year: the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the 2023 Caribbean Cup in Puerto Rico during the first week of October, and the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games that were held in San Salvador, El Salvador in late June and early July, and the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Viera helped Cuba reach the semifinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, where they lost to the United States 14-2 at loanDepot Park. He appeared in three games out of the bullpen with a 6.75 ERA over four innings of work, allowing six hits, three earned runs, two walks, and five strikeouts with a 2.00 WHIP.
During the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, Viera helped Cuba earn a berth in the gold medal game that was rained out, resulting in Mexico being awarded the gold medal. Viera went 1-1 during the tournament, starting two games and throwing 8.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, two earned runs, four walks, and four strikeouts with a 1.62 ERA.
Viera also pitched inat the 2023 Caribbean Cup, where World No. 8 Cuba beat No. 28 Curacao 3-1 in the gold medal game and went undefeated at 4-0. Viera pitched four innings against No. 11 Puerto Rico in the pool round and allowed two hits, one earned run, one walk, and two strikeouts.
In 2023, Viera pitched in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Olmecas de Tabasco, going 5-3 and throwing 56.2 innings in 12 starts with a 3.81 ERA, allowing 60 hits, 24 earned runs, three home runs, 19 walks, 48 strikeouts and a 1.394 WHIP.
Viera has played three seasons in the LMB, playing the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Saraperos de Saltillo.
In his three seasons in the LMB, Viera is 14-11 with 4.87 ERA in 45 games, throwing 192.1 innings and allowing 228 hits, 104 earned runs, 19 home runs, 62 walks, 131 strikeouts with a 1.508 WHIP.
Viera has played 10 seasons between LMB, Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, and the Serie Nacional de Cuba. In 98 starts and 260 appearances, he has a 65-53 record, throwing 873.1 innings with 39 saves, allowing 843 hits, 351 earned runs, 54 home runs, 309 walks, 583 strikeouts, and a 1.319 WHIP.
The 2024 Liga Mexicana de Beisbol regular season will open with the Diablos Rojos del México against the Pericos de Puebla at Estadio de Béisbol Hermanos Serdán on April 11.
The Conspiradores de Querétaro will travel to Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, on April 12 for their first game against the Tigres de Quintana Roo at Estadio de Beisbol Beto Ávila.