Cuban slugger Alarcon third in Home Run Derby in Caribbean Series

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 5 (acn) Cuban Yosvani Alarcón finished third in the Home Run Derby held within the Caribbean Baseball Series, based in this city, event won by the representative of Venezuela Felix Perez.

Alarcon was the only participant for the Cuban team in the first competition of its kind organized in the history of Caribbean baseball classic, following the last minute confirmation reporting the absence of the Cuban slugger Alfredo Despaigne, who appeared as one of the main attractions.

The coaching staff of the Cuban team Ciego de Avila Tigres reported that due to a small pain on his right shoulder, it was decided together with the athlete that Despaigne to keep concentrated his efforts on the collective aspiration of the team and did not participate in the competition.

The Home Run Derby of the Santo Domingo 2016 Caribbean Baseball Series included a qualification round, in which each of the participants had a time of four minutes for his batting round.

Yosvany Alarcón was out of the finals when hitting only three homeruns over the fences of the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium.
The Cuban descent player Felix Perez, representative of the Venezuelan team Aragua Tigres, won the preliminary round with eight homers, followed by Puerto Rican Neftali Soto (4), and both advanced to the discussion of the title.

Meanwhile, the former MLB star player, Dominican Vladimir Guerrero, hit three homers to remain tied for third seat with Alarcon, and American Cyle Hankerd, member of the Mexican team Mazatlan Venados, finished last with only one homer.

In the scepter dispute, Neftali Soto hit only one home run and I was surpassed by lefty Felix Perez, who hit two homers without the need to complete the two minutes time destined for each of the finalists.

Before the beginning of the tournament, the organizers of this Caribbean Baseball Series gave gre at promotion to the Home Run Derby due to the expected presence of local idols David Ortiz and Robinson Cano in addition to Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera.

Eventually, the trio of stellar active players in the top circuit of American baseball did not participate in the competition due to the absence of insurance requested at the last minute by MLB and the players' association.