While several league’s postseasons are still in progress, the MLB offseason is looming closely. A player that has arrived in the United States and is prepared to showcase in front of MLB scouts is Cuban catcher Ariel Pestano Jr.. He arrived in the United States on October 7.
The 26-year-old catcher is the son of Cuban great and nicknamed “El Veterano,” catcher, Ariel Pestano. His father is considered as one of the greatest catchers in Cuban history. He played for the Naranjas de Villa Clara from 1991-2014, in the Cuban Series Nacional. Pestano played in 1,282 games, had 4,330 at-bats, 1,262 hits, 126 home runs, 753 RBI’s, hitting for a career .292 batting average. While representing Cuba across his chest, Pestano also helped Cuba bring home 11 gold medals, with Cuba’s last gold medal coming in 2010 in Taichung, in the Intercontinental Cup.
I had the opportunity to ask Pestano Jr. about what it’s like to follow in his father’s legacy in baseball. He told me, “It’s always a challenge to be his best son, but I take that challenge with pride and I just try to be myself day by day, and I worked hard to continue growing.”
As for his son, he will be showcasing for teams, after getting the opportunity to participate in training camps in Mexico with the Caneros de Los Mochis. “It was a great opportunity that they gave me to prepare and more or less to get in shape to see if I could stay for the season, but thank god I got the CBP one appointment and can come to the United States,” he explained. Pestano Jr. started his Cuban Series Nacional with the same team his father played for, the Naranjas de Villa Clara during the 2017-18 season at 19. He only had one at-bat, and the same followed for the 2018-19 season. For the 2019-20 season, he joined the Alazanes de Granma, where he would spend the next two seasons. During his time with Granma, Pestano Jr. played in 72 games, hitting one home run, 14 RBI’s, hitting for a .217 average.
After the 2020-21 season, he did not play during the 2021-22 season. He would rejoin Villa Clara for the 2022-23 season, beginning to garner attention. He also played in the Cuban Elite League with the Centrales. Between both teams, Pestano Jr. hit .275, including one home run, 14 RBI’s, collecting 49 hits in 178 at-bats.
His breakout season would come with Villa Clara during the 2023-24 season. In a career-high 66 games, Pestano Jr. hit eight home runs, drove in a career-high 31 RBIs, hitting for a .276 average.
Pestano Jr. told me, “My career in Cuba statistically speaking was not one of the best. I could never have the explosion that everyone expected from me, but I think I played well and my career came in a sense each and every day.”
Now, the catcher is here in the United States, where he is applying for free agency for the MLB, with plans to make appearances and showcase for MLB organizations, reports journalist Yusseff Diaz. He is represented by A&F Sports Agency. “Well, right now I’m in the United States in Miami and I am preparing to present myself, god-willing, and everything will turn out well and I can achieve dream, which is to sign with an MLB organization,” Pestano Jr. said. It will be great to see whether teams will consider signing the catcher to a potential contract in hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps, as becoming one of the greatest catchers in Cuban baseball history.
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Image Courtesy of Ariel Pestano Jr.
