Houston Astros sign Cuban baseball player Luis Avilés Jr.

The Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) signed young Cuban baseball player Luis Avilés Jr. this week to a Minor League contract, sports reporter Francys Romero confirmed.

Romero expanded in your newsletter that Avilés Jr. will return to the minor league system in North American baseball thanks to a recent signing with the “galactics” from Houston. The 28-year-old infielder from Havana will have a new opportunity and with this contract he becomes the 23rd Cuban in the Astros baseball system.

“Another Cuban-born player signs with the Houston Astros, this time to a Minor League contract. The Astros have 23 Cubans in their system, leaders among MLB franchises,” the journalist highlighted.

Aviles Jr. will be assigned to the Astros’ Double-A branch, the Corpus Christi Hooks team. A few weeks ago, the man from the capital was associated with the San Diego Padres, also in Double A, but they fired him.

Cuban INF Luis Aviles Jr. (28) signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros, per source. He will be assigned to Corpus Christie @cchooksDouble-A.

The Astros increase to 23 Cubans born players in their system, leaders among MLB teams. pic.twitter.com/Eb08VzhJEr

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) June 6, 2023

From San Diego he went to the Mexican Baseball League with the Acereros de Monclova, where he did not stay for long either because he was bought by the Lake Country DockHounds, from the independent US baseball league.

Avilés Jr. accumulates 10 seasons in the Minor Leagues in various teams: Milwaukee Brewers, Angels, Marlins and the Padres. The Houston Astros are the fifth team that integrates the capital, despite their young age. His biggest rise came in 2022, when he reached the Triple-A level with the Jacksonville Marlins, with whom he hit an average of .246, including seven home runs.

The young Cuban baseball player has not been limited to US baseball; He also accumulates experience in winter baseball in Venezuela, in Mexico and even in the Australian Baseball League, with the Adelaide Giants.

This will be another opportunity for Avilés Jr. to prove that he has what it takes to reach the Major Leagues, now with the Astros, where his compatriots like Yordan Álvarez and José Abreu shine at the highest level.