CUBA – Villa Clara’s Yasmani Hernández Romero and Cienfuegos’ José Dariel Abreu Correa were named the Players of the Week for the week ending February 7.

The young hurler helped his case this past week with two victories, one against the Mets (17-1) and another against Isla de la Juventud (10-5) were the result of his recent great performances.

Hernández went 2-0 with a 3.69 ERA, giving up just four runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out 11 in 10 total innings.

Thanks in part to his dominance, the Orangemen rolled to five wins in six games against the Mets and Pine Cutters, and they came out to tie the Guantanamo Indians in the first place of the East.

This is the first time Yasmani has garnered Player of the Week honors.

Followed closely by: Other candidates were Mets’ reliever Rancel Díaz (.2-0, 7.71 ERA, and two strikeouts). Indians’ starter Frank Navarro (2-0, 0.00 ERA, three strikeouts) and Stallions closer Alberto Soto la O. (two saves, three strikeouts and no runs in three games and five innings).

The Elephants’ resurgence from the depths of the Western League to contention as a squad with an outside shot at a playoff berth has largely been a result of their offensive revival.

And while the rest of the WL teams are learning it is too late to write off the Elephants, the same can be also said about Abreu.

The 22-year-old, who has emerged to become a key part of Cienfuegos’ offensive attack, hit safely in each of his six games. This included a Cuban League-leading .688 (11-16) batting average.

Abreu finished with .793 OBP and a 1.375 slugging percentage, including 2 doubles, 3 homers and 16 total bases — to notch his first weekly honor this season.

The young hitter added a 2.168 OPS and was hit by the ball five times.

In the wake of his hot streak, Abreu is now batting .403 on the season, with 28 home runs – leader – and 64 RBIs.

Followed closely by: Tigers third basemen Adonis García (four homers and fourteen RBIs), Elephants catcher Osvaldo Arias and Dogs outfielder Edilse Silva (both with four homers) and Dogs outfielder Oscar del Rosario (fourteen hits) also earned nominations.

Ray Otero can be reached at: elistas@baseballdecuba.com

Photo courtesy of BaseballdeCuba/J. Semana

Tags: Cuba