Cuban 2-Way Star Oscar Colas Defects to Seek MLB Contract
By Michael Luciano
Cuba has produced a plentiful bounty of MLB talent over the years, and outfielder/pitcher Oscar Colas could be next in line given his attractive versatility.
Colas, 21, has defected from Cuba and is seeking a contract with a big league team after spending the previous season in Japan, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Outfielder/pitcher Oscar Colás, one of the best prospects to emerge from Cuba in years, has defected and will seek a deal with a major league team, sources familiar with his plans tell ESPN. Colás, 21, played in Japan last year and hit .302/.350/.516. He’s a LHP up to 95, too.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 3, 2020
With the NPB's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Colas hit .300 with 12 home runs in 73 games. He did not pitch in Japan, but reports state that the lefty has hit 95 mph on the radar gun.
A young lefty bat that can play the outfield, play first base, and pitch is certainly not going to last long on the market. Expect a feeding frenzy for the kid's services stateside.
Sources from Cuba confirm that Oscar Luis Colas, the Cuban Ohtani, left the island in last hours and will pursue an MLB contract. Colas debuted in 2019 on the NPB with HR on their first turn at bat. pic.twitter.com/kMcKq7eTqh
— Francys Romero (@FrancysRomero10) January 3, 2020
Colas has potential to make it as a pitcher or an outfielder in the majors, and there is even a chance that he turns into a Shohei Ohtani type that can regularly play both ways. At just 21, Colas is going to have his pick of professional teams once he officially becomes available.