The Stars acquired outfielder Nomar Mazara from the Tigres del Licey, in exchange for infielder Domingo Leyba and outfielder George Valera.
Mazara is an experienced player, who currently plays for the Triple A team of the Washington Nationals (Rochester). Together with him, the Stars obtained the right to select in the 12th round of the Licey, in the next recruiting tournament of the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic.
This year, in Triple A, Mazara has 2 hits in each of his first 3 games of the season (6-for-12).
“Mazara is a player with major league experience who can make an immediate impact in the middle of our lineup,” All-Star general manager Manny Garcia said.
“He’s a left-handed hitter, with the ability to hit the ball into the channels and hit with power,” said Garcia, who noted that a change of scenery could help the 27-year-old put better records in the Dominican League.
In the Major Leagues, Mazara had an impressive start to his career, with the Texas Rangers, in 2016, when he hit 20 home runs, with 64 RBIs and a .266 batting average, in 516 times at bat.
In his first three seasons (2016-2018) in the Major Leagues, Mazara hit 20 or more home runs in each of them. In the fourth, he hit 19 homers. He had 101 RBIs as a sophomore (2017).
Some injuries, especially to his rib cage muscles, have reduced his playing time and productive capacity since 2020.
He is currently in good physical condition, according to medical reports consulted by the Stars.
“Leyba is a versatile player who gives us depth in the infield, a contact bat and the ability to play both second base and third base,” said Audo Vicente, general manager of the blue team.
He added that Valera is an outfielder who hits left-handed, with the power of extra-base hits and a home run, that he can work in all three positions in the outfield. In addition, he pointed out that his youth and experience in minority circuits fit perfectly into the plans of the so-called “Kings of the Caribbean.” “One of the attractions of this outfielder is his ability to reach the bases, the energy with which he plays baseball and his knowledge of the strike zone,” added the blue executive, in a press release.
Leyba, 27, is hitting .333 with two homers and six RBIs with the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Plus, he has a .429 OBP in nine games.
He has played in parts of five seasons in Dominican baseball and is a Gold Glove winner at second base in the 2019-20 season. Last season, he had a .318 OBP with 10 runs scored in 22 games with the Orientals.
His service record includes stays in parts of three seasons in the Majors, playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles.
While Valera, who is 22 years old and belongs to the Cleveland Guardians, hit 24 home runs in 2022, with 82 RBIs and a .353 OBP in 132 games with the Columbus Clippers, Triple-A branch of that organization. In the Dominican League, the outfielder has only participated in 13 games.
While Mazara is hitting .226 for life in Lidom, with three home runs and 14 RBIs, in parts of three seasons.