Edgar Quero of the Los Angeles Angels swings at a pitch during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park on July 08, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The Cuban Professional Baseball Federation added Chicago White Sox catcher prospect Edgar Quero to their preliminary roster with permission from the organization’s front office, FEPCUBE announced on their X account Wednesday.
Quero was listed on the preliminary roster FEPCUBE released on December 29.
Quero, 20, was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and has played three professional seasons in the minor leagues since signing with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on Feb. 26, 2021.
Last season, Quero was selected to the American League Futures Game roster at the 2023 All-Star Game after started the season with the Angels in Double-A Rocket City. He was traded to the White Sox on July 26, 2023 with left-handed pitcher Ky Bush going with him to the Southside in exchange for right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito and right-handed pitcher Reynaldo López.
Quero was assigned to Double-A Birmingham by the White Sox organization for the second half of the 2023 that day.
With Double-A Rocket City, Quero hit .246 in 70 games, making 321 plate appearances and smacking 63 hits, 13 doubles, three home runs, 35 RBI, 55 walks, 53 strikeouts and a .718 OPS before being traded to the White Sox. For Double-A Birmingham, he hit .277 in 31 games in 134 plate appearances with 31 hits, four doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI, 17 walks, and 23 strikeouts to close out the 2023 season.
In 2022, Quero played with Low-A Inland Empire. In 111 games, he batted .312 with 513 plate appearances and 129 hits, 35 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 75 RBI, 12 stolen bases, 73 walks, 91 strikeouts, and a .965 OPS.
In three professional seasons in the minor leagues, Quero has played in 251 games, batting .279 with 252 hits, 62 doubles, three triples, 28 home runs, 162 RBI, 15 stolen bases, 173 walks, 211 strikeouts, and a .856 OPS.
The FEPCUBE team has several Major League Baseball players, including Aroldis Chapman, Yandy Diaz, Jorge Soler, Yulieski Gurriel, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Aledmys Díaz, and Yennier Cano listed on the preliminary roster for the 2024 Intercontinental Series.
Players who elected free agency such as Yulieski Gurriel, Soler, and Chapman could play in this tournament.
Aledmys Diaz, Yandy Diaz, Cano, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are under contract with a MLB organization, and the Intercontinental Series is not part of the Winter League Agreement.
Brayan Pena will be the manager for the FEPCUBE team for the Intercontinental Series. Mandy Llanes is the president of FEPCUBE. Former MLB Cuban born pitcher Orlando Hernandez is the vice president and general manager of FEPCUBE.
FEPCUBE has no relationship to the Federacion Cubana de Beisbol or the Cuban government.
The FEPCUBE entry for the Intercontinental Series will have their training camp at Miami-Dade College North Campus’s Demie Mainieri Field from Jan. 6-22, before traveling to Barranquilla, Colombia, for the Intercontinental Series.
The Intercontinental Series will be from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 2024, with the champion of the Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombia representing Colombia. Curacao, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, the United States, are reportedly also participating in the event. All teams will have on-field batting practice on January 25 prior to the first day of games on January 26.
FEPCUBE will play their first game of the 2024 Intercontinental Series against Japan on January 26 at Estadio Edgar Renteria in Barranquilla, Colombia at 2 p.m. EST.
All of the 2024 Intercontinental Series games will take place at Estadio Edgar Renteria.
The 2024 Intercontinental Series will be streamed at https://ipbseries.kiswe.com/ for a fee.
FEPCUBE 2024 Intercontinental Series Schedule
All games will take place at Estadio Edgar Renteria
Friday, Jan. 26, 2024
2 p.m. EST – FEPCUBE vs. Japan
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024
2 p.m. EST – FEPCUBE vs. South Korea
Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024
2 p.m. EST – United States vs. FEPCUBE
Monday, Jan. 29, 2024
7 p.m. EST – Colombia vs. FEPCUBE
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024
2 p.m. EST – Curacao vs. FEPCUBE
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024
2 p.m. EST – Semifinal No. 1
2 p.m. EST – Semifinal No. 2
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024
7 p.m. EST – Championship Game