Venezuelan players continue to make headlines within the U.S. organized baseball system, though this time for a negative reason: seven players of Venezuelan descent have been released by their respective organizations—including Lenyn Sosa, a player with extensive Major League experience.

In the view of certain teams, the performance of these Caribbean players did not align with expectations or meet the standards set by the coaching staff and management. Consequently, the teams made the tough decision to part ways with them, leaving the players as free agents with the opportunity to sign with new clubs in the upcoming MLB market.

Toronto Blue Jays part ways with two Venezuelans

Lenyn Sosa, a native of Guayana, lacked good fortune in 2026; although he split time between the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays in the Major Leagues, he did not figure in the Canadian franchise's plans, and they released him after 28 MLB games. He was sent to the minor leagues but failed to secure a spot there either, leading the team to remove him from the roster entirely. Over the course of the season in the Majors, he posted a .195 batting average, with just one home run and nine RBIs.

Meanwhile, young outfielder Nicolás Vergara, a native of Táchira, failed to meet expectations during his single season with the Toronto Blue Jays in the Dominican Summer League (DSL), recording a .151 batting average, one home run, and 11 RBIs across 30 games. His playing time was limited, as he had only signed in 2025; now, just a year later, he faces this tough decision so early in his career.

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New York Mets and Atlanta Braves also make cuts

Among the releases made by teams in the American League, two pitchers were affected: Álvaro Carrillo of the New York Mets and César Rodríguez of the Atlanta Braves. Regarding the first case, Carrillo, a native of Aragua, spent a significant amount of time with the New York organization; in fact, he played for their Dominican Rookie-level affiliate for three seasons. However, his performance eventually declined, and he finished his tenure with a career record of six wins and three losses, along with a 3.71 ERA.

Rodríguez, originally from Barinas, was part of the Atlanta Braves organization between 2025 and 2026. He managed to move up briefly in 2026 to play for the team's Florida Complex League squad in the U.S., but he was hit hard by opposing batters. This resulted in poor statistics, one win and two losses with an ERA approaching 11.00, all over the course of just 17 innings of work.

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Athletics, Rays, and White Sox release Venezuelan pitchers

Santiago Valencia was also let go, this time by the Athletics, after posting an 8.10 ERA across eight outings totaling less than seven innings of work. His poor performance highlighted a lack of control, as he issued 12 walks against just eight strikeouts. A WHIP of 2.40 also factored into the management's decision to release him.

As for Isaac Vegas, he had little opportunity to remain with the Tampa Bay Rays. While he finished the 2025 season with a win, he failed to secure a victory in 2026, instead recording two losses. Despite a 3.38 ERA, the ratio of innings pitched to runs allowed revealed a lack of consistency, preventing him from delivering reliable performances out of the bullpen for the organization's Minor League affiliates.

Finally is Juan Martínez of the Chicago White Sox. The pitcher from the Venezuelan capital made six appearances on the mound during the 2026 season in the Dominican Republic. However, his numbers fell short; he recorded one win and one loss but posted a 15.75 ERA. He even had a save opportunity but failed to convert it. The statistics are striking: in just four innings of work, he allowed 11 runs and issued 10 walks. Opponents batted .300 against him during this stretch, and he finished his stint with a WHIP of 4.00.

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What is behind these decisions by MLB teams?

Each of these decisions originated in the front offices of the various Major League clubs; they were driven by the need to achieve results and improve performance across their minor league affiliates. Consequently, the roster spots occupied by these players needed to be freed up to accommodate the testing of new talent.

For now, these seven Venezuelan players no longer have MLB commitments, opening the way for them to join winter leagues running from October through January. Their goal is to regain their form, improve their performance, and position themselves to play a key role for a team in 2027.

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