A New World for a New Game.
Like countless baseball leagues around the globe, France hosts several diasporas scattered across all levels of play. The Americas, one of the two global hotspots alongside Asia, continuously supply championships with players from across the Atlantic. Among them, our beloved « latinos ». Hailing from the « Rep Dom » (Montas, Soriano…), Cuba (Orestes Kindelan, Erlis Casanova…), Venezuela (Delagado Garcia, Perez, Perdomo A, Nieves…), Mexico (Mendoza…), and more rarely from Argentina (Milar Ramiro), Chile (Ossandon), or Brazil (Do Carmo), these players from the « New World » have been precious assets of « French-style » baseball for decades.
Who hasn’t encountered the cheerful demeanor of a « latino » on the field, with their big gestures and big smiles, headphones blasting salsa or vallenato to the rhythm of the « clave »? Who hasn’t enjoyed sharing baseball with a New World resident, spiced up with some incomprehensible gibberish (even if you have your high school diploma)? Whether it’s after a stint in the minor leagues (the dream of any « pelotero ») or simply wanting to experience life abroad, many of these players join the « French » championship. Some make brief appearances, others settle in for the long haul. Here are some of their portraits.
Statistics taken on May 25, 2023.
Ivan Acuna – Lions de Savigny. 28 years old. 99 kg.
« Ivan the Terrible » needs no introduction, a solid backstop for Savigny since 2019.
Born on February 18, 1995, he completed his education in the United States at Winston-Salem State University in NCAA Division 2. He then signed a professional contract with the Bravos de Marguerita. He made his debut in the French Division 1 Championship in 2019 with Savigny. In 2020, he was selected for the French national team for the World Baseball Classic qualifiers as an eligible player (residence in France). In four seasons (2019-2022), the Venezuelan hit 10 home runs for the Lions. Avg .386 (including 3 triples and 35 doubles) OBP .501. That’s a sting!
In 2023, it’s even worse!: Avg: .436 (4 doubles and 3 HR). CDF ’23: Avg .455 (two doubles, one HR) – OBP .500. Second in power: .909. « What else »?
Pablo Ossandon – Boucaniers de La Rochelle. 33 years old.
« Pablito » has been named the best player in Chilean baseball four times, a record in his country. In 2013, he was even elected the best pitcher in the South American championship, the year Chile won the bronze medal. The Chilean passed through the Huskies organization in 2015. In 2017, he joined the Boucaniers, where he primarily serves as a D1 coach without completely abandoning the mound. Pablo’s career in France (as of 2023 exit): 35 W, 15 L. Era: 3.11 – IP: 364.2 – 268 K – 90 BB.
Adame Yondeily Quiroz – Cometz de Metz.
The flagship club of Moselle secures the services of a pitcher from Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. At 23, Adame leaves the American continent for the first time. An interesting profile, a left-handed pitcher who is in excellent physical shape and offers power. He had the opportunity to work with very high-level players as a training partner, which is a great added value for the Messins. D1 2023: 2 W, 3 L – IP 33.2 – Era 4.28 – 44 K – 17 BB
Javier Hernandez, 26 years old – Rouen Huskies.
The Norman organization is known, among other things, for its regularly effective recruitment. In 2022, the charismatic « catcher/designated hitter » Hernandez succeeded his compatriot Bracamonte. Hernandez in D1 2022: Avg .368 (5 2b, 1 HR) – 12 K – 24 BB – 27 R. CDF ’23: Avg .333 (including a triple) – 4R. Originally from Maracay, Venezuela, he signed his first pro contract as a teenager with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. At just 16, he played in the Dominican Summer League. For many prospects, one or two seasons in an affiliated league is all they can hope for with their respective MLB clubs. But the Blue Jays gave Hernandez a chance to play in the United States and Canada as well, where he spent six seasons, eventually reaching the A-Advanced level. In seven seasons with various Blue Jays affiliates, Hernández collected 180 hits and 78 RBIs while batting .219.
Gilbert Perdomo – Lions de Savigny.
The Lions can count on Gilbert Perdomo this year, who notably played in the Venezuelan professional league and in Italy’s « Serie A » in 2021 (ERA 1.92). At 33, the South American offers the team solid pitching and several years of experience as a pro player.
D1 2023: Era: 0.30 – 3 W, 0 L – 30 IP – 41 K – 6 BB and only .067 in opponent avg! CDF 2023: Era 4.67 – 3 IP – 1 BB – 3 K.
Kevin Canelon – 1.83 m, 83 kg. Montpellier Barracudas.
« K-nelon » has been making opposing batters tremble since 2019 in the French first division. The tall Venezuelan, a 29-year-old left-handed pitcher, piles up performances, well-known for his devastating « fastballs ». From 2019 to 2022: Era 0.96 – IP 271.2 – 333 K – 33 BB – batters only hit .181 against him.
For 2023, it’s off to a great start: 4W and 0L – Era 0.75 – IP 24 – 37 K – 4 BB… CDF: 1W – Era 1.11 –
IP 6.1 – 5 K – 0 BB. He allowed a home run against the Barracudas. …The honor of facing the most powerful… Not surprising when you look at his bio: from 2011 to 2019, Kevin occupied various mounds, notably for the minor leagues of the Mets organization. « In the Dominican Summer League » and in the « Gulf Coast League ». He reached the AA level in 2018 with the Pensacola Wahoos. From his 8 seasons in the minor leagues, these figures stand out: 545 IP – Era 3.32 – 24 W, 29 L – 483 K – 124 BB. One might wonder why Kevin didn’t go further. He now represents one of the top pitching forces in French baseball.
Yeixon Josep Ruiz – Templiers de Sénart,
Also a former prospect of the New York Mets, Yeixon reached the AA level in the American minor leagues. He distinguished himself as follows: Avg .259 – 121 RBI – 8 HR – OBP 327.
The 32-year-old Dominican infielder became a Templier in 2023 after spending four seasons with the Lions (2018-2022), for whom he batted .353 (5 HR, 9 triples, 25 doubles). An ideal candidate to strengthen a favorite team in D1, his maturity and experience benefit Sénart, which logically nurtures ambitions… For 2023, in 12 games, he hits a solid .340 (4 doubles) and produces an OBP of .441. He leads in stolen bases with 10/10. In the CDF ’23, Yeixon leads in Avg with .600 and in OBP: .643.
Douglas Ely Rodriguez, 38 years old – PUC.
Here is the archetype of a talented player, unfortunately wasted by the unsatisfactory results of PUC, his beloved club. Douglas has been roaming the fields of the French Elite since 2007, mainly for the Pucistes but has however taken two breaks: in 2016, the Venezuelan signed with the French Cubs and in 2017, he had a stint with Saint Just – Saint Rambert. His 2007-2022 stats are impressive in 470 games played: 333 R – Avg .373 – 143 doubles, 35 triples, and 22 HR. OBP .428. For 2023, Avg .349 – 2 doubles – 1 HR. Many clubs would love to have a player as talented as him… Next year?
Henderson Armani, 25 years old – Metz Cometz.
Armani is an American by birth who recently obtained Dominican nationality, from which his family originates. He studied at Merrimack College in Massachusetts and Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. He primarily plays as an outfielder but is also capable of performing in the infield, thanks to his very high athletic level. It’s notably this defensive versatility that makes him a very competitive player. In addition to the defensive aspect, Armani is a very good hitter who gets on base a lot and with power. 2023: Avg .326 including 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 HR – 11 RBI.
Allan Bellen Fagnoni – Cougars Montigny. Yes, Brazil too!
Allan (international Brazilian like Gabriel Do Carmo) started playing baseball at the age of 8 in Marilia, Brazil. He was selected for the U12, U13, and U14 national teams. He went to Haguro High School (Japanese League) in 2007-2009. From 2009 to 2014, he was recruited to play in Japan. He participated in the World Baseball Qualifier in Panama in 2012 and the WBC in Japan in 2013 before joining the Toulouse club in France in 2015, where he produced impressive numbers: AVG at .410, 34 hits, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs, and 14 RBI, finishing as the second-best hitter in D1. Allan then played in Brazil from 2016 to 2018, where he won several batting titles (best RBI producer three years in a row, among others) with his club. With the national team, he became South American champion in 2016. In 2019, Allan was in Ronchi, Italy (COVID year), then landed in Germany at Mannheim in 2020 with a very successful team run as they reached the semifinals. Allan also participated in his second WBC Qualifier with Brazil that year. In 2021, he played again in Germany with the Storms. France D1 2023: Avg .359 – 5 doubles, 1 HR. In the CDF ’23: leader in RBI: 7, second in hits: 8. Powerful and consistent, Fagnoni establishes himself in the Yvelines as the Cougars’ power asset.
Yorfranck Lopez 32 years old – Montigny Cougars 1.88 m, 105 kg. CDF 2023: MVP and best pitcher…
Yorfranck has just won the CDF ’23 final against the Huskies. The Cougars are rubbing their hands together because the Venezuelan, boosted by an overdetermined lineup, imperial, simply opened the doors to the European stage with power. His story: Lopez signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers franchise in 2009. He primarily played at the Rookie level, first in the « Venezuelan Summer League » and then in the United States, reaching level A in 2014 before being released by the franchise. He played in parallel in the winter in the « Venezuelan Professional Baseball League » with the Tiburones de La Guaira and then the Caribes de Anzoátegui. He joined the Cougars de Montigny-le-Bretonneux in 2018 and won the title of best pitcher in the French Division 1 Championship, with the Cougars finishing as runners-up in France. He was selected for the French national team for the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in 2022 as an eligible player (resident in France). Stats 2018-2022: Era 1.62 in 384 IP. 439 K – 101 BB. Opponent avg: .202
D1 2023: Era 2.19 – 2 W, 2 L – 37 IP – 46 K – 9 BB, only 9 earned runs and an average of .188 against him. CDF 2023: 2W, 0 L, 18 IP – Era 0.78 – 20 K – 3 BB, Opp.avg .203. He leads in doubles with 4 hits in the competition.
Sergio Jossue Mendoza Ordonez – Stade Toulousain
Jossue MENDOZA, a sturdy 36-year-old hitter, begins his 12th season at the Stade. The « Tiger from Mexico » continues his race to become the best hitter in the club’s history. With 335 hits in his career, he will need a few more seasons to join Frédéric Rougé and his record of 415 hits. Stats 2010-2022: Avg .350 – 86 doubles – 14 triples – 6 HR. 80 SB – OBP .418. An exemplary consistency that does not wane for 2023 in 12 games: Avg .386 – 1 double, 1 HR – OBP .491.
Vincent Picard
