The Cuban pitchers Andy Vargas and Pavel Hernández made their inaugural appearance this Sunday in China's professional baseball arena, aiding the Xiamen Dolphins to a 7-3 victory against the Changsha WantWant in the 2026 summer season of the Chinese Professional Baseball (CPB).
According to Pelota Cubana, Vargas was the first to take the mound. The right-hander entered as a reliever in the fourth inning, pitching for two-thirds of an inning. He allowed two hits and issued one walk but managed to avoid allowing any runs.
Hernández stepped in during the seventh inning, delivering a more dominant performance: a full inning with no hits or runs, and he struck out one batter.
Strong Start for Xiamen Dolphins
With this win, the Dolphins improved their opening record to 2-0 for the championship, while the Changsha WantWant fell to 0-1.
Two other Cuban players also shone in the game. José Amaury Noroña, batting leadoff and playing center field, finished 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs. Yasiel González, batting fourth and playing right field, went hitless in three at-bats but reached base through a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
A Historic Presence of Cuban Talent
The four players are part of a historic group of nine Cuban athletes competing in the CPB 2026, spread between the Xiamen Dolphins and the Beijing Loongs, which includes Frank Herrera, Fher Cejas, Yankiel Mauris, Andy Cosmes, and Alfredo Despaigne.
Vargas arrives in China recognized as one of the standout pitchers in recent Cuban baseball. During the 2024 Premier 12, he notched up 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings, marking one of Cuba's most remarkable performances in that tournament. Born in Ciego de Ávila, Hernández achieved his second no-hitter in the National Series on October 14, 2025, when he came close to perfection against Artemisa, pitching seven innings, walking one, and striking out seven.
Meanwhile, González joined Xiamen as the MVP of the 2025-2026 National Series with Holguín, during which he batted .409 with 16 home runs.
2026 CPB Summer Season Underway
The 2026 summer season of the CPB kicked off on August 13 at the Xuhui West Bund Baseball Field in Shanghai with six teams competing. The format includes 45 regular-season games, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, culminating in a best-of-three final series starting on September 26.
Key Insights into Cuban Players in CPB 2026
Who are the Cuban pitchers making their debut in the CPB 2026?
Andy Vargas and Pavel Hernández are the Cuban pitchers who made their debut in the CPB 2026 with the Xiamen Dolphins.
How did the Xiamen Dolphins perform in their opening game?
The Xiamen Dolphins won their opening game 7-3 against Changsha WantWant, starting the season with a 2-0 record.
What notable achievements do Vargas and Hernández have?
Andy Vargas is known for his impressive performance in the 2024 Premier 12 with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings, while Pavel Hernández achieved his second no-hitter in the National Series in 2025.