Yoan Moncada will be suiting up for his home country next month.
According to MLB insider Francys Romero, the White Sox third baseman will be participating in the Premier 12 tournament with Cuba in November. Moncada is reportedly in the process of getting his visa to South Korea, where the games are taking place, and is expected to join the team next week.
Moncada, 29, did not see much playing time in 2024 thanks to a left adductor strain suffered on April 10. The injury sidelined him until mid-September, giving players like Lenyn Sosa, Bryan Ramos, and the newly acquired Miguel Vargas starting opportunities in his absence. This continued even after Moncada made his return, as interim manager Grady Sizemore made it clear that he would be giving the young players priority.
When all was said and done, Moncada appeared in just 12 games this season where he hit .275/.356/.400 with three doubles and a .756 OPS. The early-season injury was just another chapter in a disappointing past few years, where IL stints led to him playing in just 196 games between 2022 and 2023. During that stretch, he only showed flashes of the player he could be while hitting .234/.288/.386 with 23 homers, .674 OPS, 86 wRC+, and 1.9 fWAR.
Looking ahead to the future, Moncada likely doesn’t have a place in the team’s long-term plans. He possesses a $25 million club option for 2025, but the White Sox will undoubtedly pay his $5 million buyout instead. After all, Moncada has failed to consistently deliver as the player he was touted to be, playing in 132 games or more just three times out of his eight major league seasons with the franchise.
The former No. 1 overall prospect will gladly take this upcoming opportunity with Team Cuba to put together a strong showing. He will also look to carry that over to the Tiburones de La Guaira of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League afterward, who he will reportedly play with after the Premier 12.
As it stands right now, Moncada’s injury history and recent performances don’t particularly help his market value. The success that he’s shown when healthy, especially by way of his defense, should lead to enough interest from teams in need of an infielder. As long as he keeps IL stints to a minimum in 2025, Moncada could bounce back in a big way for whoever takes the chance.
Cuba’s first-round game in the Premier 12 tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13 against the Dominican Republic. We will be keeping a close eye on Moncada’s performance and provide any notable updates.
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