Yosmel Garcés Herrera isn't just winning games; he's building, pitch by pitch, solid credentials to be considered the cornerstone of the Las Tunas Lumberjacks' pitching staff.
His performance in the 64th Cuban National Series isn't just an improvement: it's a rewriting of his career story, marked by tactical evolution and devastating effectiveness that place him among the most valuable pitchers in the national championship.
FROM RELIEVER TO STARTER
Our expert, Master of Science Modesto Castelló Góngora, provides us with the data for the most immediate and revealing comparison: his previous season. In the 63rd Series, Garcés wore the Camagüey Bulls and played a mixed role. He appeared in 21 games but only started three, compiling a record of five wins and five losses with a 2.86 ERA. However, this statistic is misleading, as his 1.61 WHIP, with 11.44 hits and 3.02 walks per nine innings, along with a .313 opponent batting average, reveals a pitcher who frequently worked with runners on base, a typical situation in his short relief appearances.
The 64th National Series, until the games vs. Artemisa, features a completely different picture. As the team's sole starter, the Santiago native has found his ideal rhythm and role. In 11 starts, he maintains a perfect record of seven wins and zero losses, with a 3.48 ERA.
The key to his transformation lies not only in his effectiveness but also in his control and efficiency. He has drastically reduced his walk rate, bringing his average down to an excellent 1.82 per nine innings.
This translates to a WHIP of 1.29, significantly lower than last season, demonstrating a superior ability to work from the mound without the pressure of runners on base. His consistency is, quite simply, the backbone of his current success.
BETTER NOW?
Is Garcés having his best season yet? The answer is a resounding yes. To contextualize his current performance, it's necessary to take a look at how he fared in previous campaigns.
Until now, his best season as a starter was in the 61st National Series with Santiago de Cuba, where he posted a 3.98 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. His numbers in the 64th season not only surpass those figures but do so with an even more impeccable display of control.
This assertion is further reinforced by analyzing his career statistics. His lifetime ERA is 5.00, so his current 2.86 represents a monumental improvement. While other indicators, such as his 1.61 WHIP, aren't the best of his career, another statistic—runs allowed—is the lowest and most valuable of his career in a season with a significantly higher workload. This indicates greater maturity in pitching in critical situations and preventing runs, even with runners on base.
To understand his peak form, one needs only to evaluate his most recent performance. In his last four starts, up to his outing against the Cazadores, Garcés delivered elite pitching: 26.0 innings pitched, with just one walk and three runs allowed (only two of which were earned), 0.69 ERA, and four wins.
These numbers are significantly better than his already solid averages for the entire Series. While he averages 1.82 walks per nine innings over the full season, during this stretch, he averaged just 0.35. This level of control and command represents his best performance and sends a clear message to the rest of the league.
Within the Lumberjacks' rotation, his superiority is undeniable. He is, by far, the most reliable and effective starter. He is the only undefeated pitcher and leads the league with seven wins. His 1.29 WHIP is the lowest among the starting pitchers, well ahead of teammates Anier Pérez (2.07) and Rubén Rodríguez (1.65). His control is also the best on the team, with 1.82 walks per nine innings, a skill that others like Alejandro Meneses (3.86) have not been able to match. In ERA, his 3.48 is the second-best among pitchers with more than 20 innings, surpassed only by Rodolfo Díaz, who has a 2.14 ERA. However, Garcés brings durability and a winning record of seven victories without a loss; thus, he is a more decisive player.
At the league level, Garcés has earned a place among the most starters. He is one of the few who remained undefeated, with seven or more wins, until the games against the Artemisa Hunters. His excellent control places him in the league's top five in this category, an elite statistic that contrasts sharply with leading pitchers from other teams like Alain Sánchez, from Villa Clara, who has 5.55, or Randy Cueto, with 3.00.
His WHIP of 1.29 comfortably places him in the top ten, a clear indication that he allows very few baserunners, approaching the standards of pitchers like Osvaldo Cárdenas (Ciego de Ávila, 1.06) or Carlos Manuel Cuesta (Industriales), 1.08. With an ERA of 3.48, he ranks in the top third of the league, demonstrating solidity, though behind outright leaders like Cueto (1.13) and Cuesta (2.52).
His profile is clear: he's not a high-strikeout pitcher, averaging 3.31 strikeouts per nine innings, well below leaders like Dariel Góngora (Camagüey), who has 8.00; but his ability to manage the game, avoid issuing walks, and consistently win games makes him one of the most valuable starters.
A closer look at his interaction with hitters reveals crucial nuances. He's noticeably more effective against right-handed hitters. The key lies in the power he allows. Although his batting average against left-handed and right-handed hitters is identical at .282, left-handed hitters achieve a higher slugging percentage at .356, meaning he allows more extra-base hits per at-bat, while his slugging percentage against right-handed hitters is .441. This suggests that those who bat on that side of the plate "see the ball better," so to speak, or that Garcés' pitches are more comfortable to hit for them.
However, when comparing this statistic to that of the rest of the Las Tunas pitching staff, it becomes clear that what Garcés sees as an area of opportunity is a critical weakness for his teammates.
Against left-handed hitters, Garcés maintains a .265 batting average against and a .715 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). In contrast, Anier Pérez has a .410 batting average against and a 1.090 OPS; Rubén Rodríguez, .385 and .923; and Alejandro Meneses, .333 and .772, respectively. This, paradoxically, makes Garcés the team's best ally in neutralizing left-handed hitters. His ability to limit damage from both sides of the plate sets him apart and establishes him as the irreplaceable pillar of the Las Tunas pitching staff. There is no doubt that his contribution will be crucial to the team's aspirations of defending the Cuban title.