Lázaro Armenteros

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Armenteros and the second or maternal family name is Arango.
Lázaro Armenteros
Armenteros with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2021
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 25)
Havana, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
U-15 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Mazatlán Team

Lázaro Robersy Armenteros Arango (born 22 May 1999), nicknamed Lazarito, is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.

Career

Amateur

Armenteros played in the 2014 15U Baseball World Cup, held in Mexico, and made the All-Tournament Team after batting .462 in nine games.[1][2]

In 2015, Armenteros was sanctioned by the Cuban government, and disallowed from playing for the 15-and-under team.[3] Armenteros defected from Cuba in an attempt to play in Major League Baseball.[3] He reached Haiti, and established residency there in May 2015.[4] He permanently settled in the Dominican Republic.[5] A team in Nippon Professional Baseball reportedly offered Armenteros a contract worth $15 million.[6] In January 2016, Armenteros was declared a free agent.[1][7]

Oakland Athletics

On 2 July 2016, Armenteros signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics.[8] He made his American professional baseball debut in 2017[9] with both the DSL Athletics and AZL Athletics, slashing .276/.377/.443 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 47 games between the two teams.[10]

The Athletics assigned him to the Beloit Snappers of the Single–A Midwest League in 2018, for whom he batted .277 with 8 home runs and 39 RBI in 79 games.[11] In 2019, Armenteros played in 126 games for High–A Stockton Ports of the California League, hitting .222/.336/.403 with career–highs in home runs (17), RBI (61), and stolen bases (22).[12] In addition, he led the minor leagues in strikeouts, with 227 in 459 at–bats.[13]

Armenteros did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] He returned to action in 2021, splitting the year between Stockton and the High–A Lansing Lugnuts. In 71 combined contests, he hit .259/.322/.381 with 6 home runs, 26 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. Armenteros again played for Lansing in 2022, appearing in 56 games and slashing .261/.376/.479 with 10 home runs, 26 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.[15]

Armenteros once more began the 2023 season with Lansing before quickly being promoted to the Double–A Midland RockHounds. In 96 appearances for Midland, he hit .249/.380/.464 with 14 home runs, 72 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.[16] On 6 November, the Athletics added Armenteros to their 40-man roster to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency.[17]

Armenteros was optioned to the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators to begin the 2024 season.[18] After hitting .133 in 24 games, he was designated for assignment on 7 May 2024.[19] Armenteros cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A on 9 May.[20] He was released by the Athletics organization on 15 July.[21]

Personal life

Armenteros was born and raised in the San Miguel del Padrón section of Havana.[3] He has three brothers and three sisters.[6] His father, Lazaro Sr., played for the Cuban national basketball team.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "16-year-old Cuban megaprospect Lazarito Armenteros cleared to sign with an MLB team". For The Win. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Lázaro Armenteros, el próximo astro cubano en Grandes Ligas" (in Spanish). Martinoticias.com. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Cuban 'Lazarito' Armenteros seeks free agency". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  4. ^ "MLB says Cuba's Lazaro Armenteros, 16, eligible to sign". ESPN.com. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  5. ^ Stiglich, Joe (19 March 2017). "A's star prospect 'Lazarito' adjusting to American baseball, culture | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Meet Lazaro Armenteros, the next Cuban baseball star". USA TODAY. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  7. ^ "What you need to know about new Cuban free agent Lazaro Armenteros". Yahoo Sports. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  8. ^ Townsend, Mark (2 July 2016). "Coveted Cuban prospect Lazaro Armenteros finds home with A's". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  9. ^ Stiglich, Joe (25 March 2017). "A's 17-year-old prospect 'Lazarito' makes Cactus League debut | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Lazaro Armenteros Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Down on the farm: A's prospect Lazarito set to debut for Beloit, Luzardo continues to dominate – The Athletic". Theathletic.com. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  12. ^ Kleinschmidt, Jessica (21 June 2019). "A's prospect Lazaro Armenteros showing power potential in Stockton | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  13. ^ "2019 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  14. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Lazaro Armenteros - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Lazaro Armenteros Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  17. ^ "A's To Select Lazaro Armenteros". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Athletics' Lazaro Armenteros: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  19. ^ "A's Select Tyler Ferguson, Designate Lazaro Armenteros For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Athletics Outright Lázaro Armenteros". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  21. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-07-15
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