Yordanis Alarcón Withdraws from National Baseball Series Due to Ongoing Housing Issue

Yordanis Alarcón, a standout player for the Leñadores de Las Tunas, has been excluded from the team roster for the 65th National Baseball Series for reasons unrelated to his athletic performance. For over five years, he has been waiting for provincial authorities to resolve a housing exchange, and dissatisfied with the proposal offered to him, he opted not to join the team.

José Luis Rodríguez Pérez, the provincial baseball commissioner, confirmed the situation during a press conference on September 16 at the Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, where the preliminary 32-player roster was introduced.

According to Rodríguez, Alarcón "was waiting for a housing exchange and disagreed with the offer made by local authorities."

Sports journalist Pavel Otero reported that Alarcón had been promised a home with adequate living conditions. However, that property was given to someone else, and he was instead offered "a dilapidated space with four walls in poor condition."

Otero further explained, "He is in need because the location and elevation of his current home pose serious health risks to his family. His wife has suffered two miscarriages due to the stairs, necessitating a ground-floor residence for his family's well-being."

The Broader Housing Crisis in Cuba

This incident highlights a chronic issue impacting millions of Cubans: the severe housing shortage and the limitations of the exchange system, one of the few avenues for changing residences on the island.

That an athlete of Alarcón's stature, boasting 24 seasons with the Las Tunas team, has been unable to resolve his situation over five years is telling.

Alarcón debuted in the 40th National Series (2000-2001) and has been instrumental in the team's championships in Series 58 (2019), 62 (2023), and 63 (2024), as well as their runner-up finishes in Series 57 (2018) and 64 (2025).

Impact on the Team Dynamics

In December 2025, Alarcón reached the milestone of 2,000 hits in Cuban tournaments, becoming the second player from Las Tunas to achieve this, with an impressive career line of .308/.350/.416, over 2,083 hits, 318 doubles, 118 home runs, and 1,020 RBIs.

Bench coach Ángel Sosa acknowledged the significance of his absence: "The team will need to operate more cohesively to compensate for Yordanis's absence. We must improve in various aspects of the game to score runs."

Alongside Alarcón, pitcher Yoelkis Cruz Jr., who requested release to care for his mother, and Leandro Cañada, who does not meet physical standards post-injury, will also be absent.

Offsetting these losses, the return of outfielder Yunieski Larduet from Mexico and the addition of infielder Henry Quintero provide offensive options that require reinvention.

With the power factor Alarcón offered now missing, head coach Abeyci Pantoja is focusing on base-running speed and run construction as their main strategy.

The team maintains an average age of 26 and enters Series 65 as the Cuban runner-up. The series begins on October 4 with a new zonal format; Las Tunas will compete in Group C of the eastern zone with Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, and Camagüey.

Other Players Facing Similar Struggles

Despite the setbacks, Commissioner Rodríguez Pérez remains optimistic: "This is a team that knows how to rise to the occasion. We are confident in our goals and certain that the Leñadores will continue to fight."

Alarcón's case is not unique among players. This year, it was also revealed that Yadián Martínez, the top pitcher for the Huracanes de Mayabeque, has been waiting for several years for a promised home that local authorities have yet to complete.

Six years ago, he was granted land to build his house, but photos accompanying the report show an incomplete concrete block structure with no roof, overgrown with weeds, exposed rebar, and lacking doors and windows—a stalled project with no progress.