Erisbel Arruebarrena

Professional baseball career

Erisbel Arruebarrena began his professional baseball career with the Cienfuegos club in Cuba's National Series, playing there from 2008 through 2012. He also represented Cuba internationally, suiting up for the national team at the 2011 Pan American Games, the 2012 Haarlem Baseball Week, the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and the 2013 World Port Tournament. In September 2013, he attempted to defect from Cuba, which led to his exclusion from the 53rd Cuban National Series. He successfully left the country that November, establishing residency in Haiti and then training in the Dominican Republic for Major League Baseball scouts.

Los Angeles Dodgers

A preliminary contract agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers was reported on February 12, 2014, and the team officially announced his signing ten days later. The deal was a five-year contract worth a reported $25 million, including a $7.5 million signing bonus.

He started his American career with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts and was called up to the Dodgers on May 21. Arruebarrena made his MLB debut as the starting shortstop on May 23, striking out three times. He collected his first hit the following day, a single to center field off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher David Buchanan.

On July 26, while playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, Arruebarrena ignited a major brawl against the Reno Aces. The previous day, he had taken an extended home-run trot after hitting a three-run homer, and in his first at-bat of the game, a pitch came close to hitting him. After striking out, the opposing catcher brushed him while throwing to third base. Arruebarrena shoved the catcher, and both benches cleared.

He was reassigned to the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes the next day. Across 68 minor league games in 2014, he batted .259. In 22 games with the Dodgers, he served mostly as a defensive replacement, collecting eight hits in 41 at-bats for a .195 average.

The Dodgers designated Arruebarrena for assignment on December 31, 2014. After clearing waivers, he accepted an outright assignment to the team's new Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, on January 9, 2015. He was also invited to major league spring training as a non-roster player.

Did You Know?

• He also became the first ex-MLB player to win a domestic Cuban Series title after repatriating, with Matanzas' victory in the 2019/20 CNS.
• In 2017, he hit .519 across eight games for the AZL Dodgers, collecting 14 hits in 27 at-bats.
• He was suspended for the entire 2016 season by the Dodgers for 'repeated failure to comply with the terms of his contract.'
• Arruebarrena's MLB debut on May 23, 2014, saw him strike out three times as the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers.