Ronald Bolanos of Team Cuba pitches in the fourth inning against Team USA during the World Baseball Classic Semifinals at loanDepot park on March 19, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Miami Marlins pitcher Ronald Bolanos will play for the Caribes de Anzoategui this winter in the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, Yusseff Diaz of Pelota Cubana reported on Saturday.
Bolanos recently decided that he would play in Venezuela this winter rather than with the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.
Bolanos, 26, was born in Santa Cruz del Norte, Cuba and is represented by Carlos Perez of Miami Sports Consulting.
Bolanos has been playing with Triple-A Jacksonville this season, starting 15 games with a 3-10 record and an 8.63 ERA while throwing 65.2 innings. This season, Bolanos allowed 86 hits, 63 earned runs, eight home runs, 48 walks, and 48 strikeouts including a 2.04 WHIP.
Bolanos also suited up for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, helping them reach the semifinals in Miami where they lost to the United States 14-2.
During the World Baseball Classic, Bolanos appeared in two games and made one start, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing five hits, five earned runs, one home run, and three walks with a 27.00 ERA, while opponents batted .500 against him.
After the World Baseball Classic, Bolanos signed a minor league contract with the Marlins as a free agent on April 8.
Last winter, Bolanos played his first winter season with Toros del Este from Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.
He went 3-4 in nine starts, throwing 35.2 innings with a 3.53 ERA while allowing 35 hits, two home runs, 20 walks, and striking out 28 batters.
Last season, Bolanos split time between Triple-A Omaha and the Kansas City Royals.
Bolanos started in four games along and made a total of 28 appearances while going 0-4 for Triple-A Omaha, throwing 41.2 innings with a 6.26 ERA, allowing 59 hits, six home runs, 18 walks, and 34 strikeouts.
Bolanos only appeared in eight games out of the bullpen for the Royals, throwing 18.1 innings with a 4.42 ERA, allowing 20 hits, nine earned runs, two home runs, 12 walks, and 12 strikeouts with a 1.745 WHIP.
During the 2021 season, Bolanos split between two sectors of the complex league level, Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and Triple-A Omaha.
Bolanos went 0-4 with a 7.28 ERA in 15 starts at all four levels, and threw 47 innings, allowing 51 hits, 38 earned runs, 13 home runs, 37 walks, and 44 strikeouts.
The Caribes will be managed by Ramon Borrego during the 2023-24 winter league season, who takes the reins from Venezuela’s 2023 World Baseball Classic manager and Houston Astros first base coach Omar Lopez. Lopez spent six seasons with the organization from 2014-19 before returning last season.
The 2023-24 Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional season will start in October, during the middle of the Major League Baseball playoffs. The 2023-24 season schedule will be announced in the next few weeks.