Yordan Álvarez continues to make history for Cubans in MLB

The Cuban outfielder for the Houston Astros, Yordan Álvarez from Las Tunas continues to make history for Cuban players in Major League Baseball (MLB). The man from Las Tunas and third bat of the current champions has an enviable streak that will become a record.

Yordan Álvarez is a prominent Cuban baseball player who plays designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Astros and has since displayed his power and talent at bat. Nicknamed “Air Yordan,” Alvarez is 6’2″, weighs 220 pounds, hits and throws left-handed.

At the start of the 2023 season, Álvarez managed to reach base in 35 consecutive games, a feat that brings him closer to the absolute record of the Cubans shared by Tony Oliva, Tany Pérez and Minnie Miñoso with 36 games.

According to sports journalist Francys Romero, this is the “longest streak of a player born in Cuba since Rafael Palmeiro did it in 1996” and also “the only Cuban player who went through the National Series with such a long streak in MLB ”.

Yordan Alvarez in MLB

Alvarez has a .392 on-base percentage, a .284 offensive average, seven home runs and 33 RBIs so far this season. In the last game against the Angels, on May 9, he had one hit in three at-bats, drove in a run and walked one.

Álvarez is the third player in all of Major League Baseball to drive in runs, behind compatriot Adolis García with 36 and Boston third baseman Rafael Devers with 34.

Álvarez has received several recognitions for his performance in the Major Leagues. In 2019, he was unanimously voted the AL Rookie of the Year after posting the highest slugging percentage (.655) by a qualified rookie in history.

In 2020, he missed most of the season with injury, but in 2021 he bounced back and won the American League Championship Series MVP award.

In 2022, he was selected for the All-Star Game, won the Silver Slugger, and was crowned the World Series champion with the Astros. In addition, he was included in the MLB All-Star First Team, being the first player born in Cuba to do so since these awards were created in 2019.

Related