Luis Mateo (Cuba)

Luis Vicente Mateo Terry

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 135 lb.

• Born January 19, 1996 in Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos Cuba

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Luis Vicente has played in Cuba and for the Cuban national team.

Mateo debuted with the Elefantes de Cienfuegos in the 2014-2015 Serie Nacional, hitting .232/.313/.319 and fielding .781 in 22 games at 3B and .986 in 14 games at 2B. A backup infielder again in 2015-2016, he improved to .302/.376/.403, followed by .290/.354/.366 in 2016-2017, fielding .943 as their main shortstop.

He did not play in Cuba in the 2017-2018 or 2018-2019 seasons. Returning to action there in 2019-2020, he hit .302/.357/.376 and fielded .953 at short. He was 2 for 10 in the postseason. He batted .361/.438/.469 with 63 runs in 75 games in 2020-2021 then went 6 for 14 with 3 doubles in the postseason and was named the All-Star shortstop. He was 7th in Cuba in runs (between Humberto Bravo and Anibal Medina), 4th with 100 hits (between Rafael Viñales and Jeison Martínez) and tied for third in triples (4).

In 2021-2022, he hit .313/.405/.395 with 51 runs in 72 games for Cienfuegos, drawing 40 walks and legging out five triples. He tied for fourth in three-baggers. His batting line was .309/.355/.368 for the Centrales in the Cuban Elite League. He was not the only middle infielder Luis Mateo in the 2022 Caribbean Baseball Cup as Puerto Rico had a different Luis Mateo. He hit .429/.500/.429 with five runs in four round-robin games. He was second to Rey Navarro in average, 7th in OBP (between Daunte Stuart and Rayshelon Carolina), tied for third in runs (behind Dudley Leonora and Darren Seferina) and tied for second with six hits (two behind Navarro). He was 0 for 4 in the semifinals and 1 for 3 with a run and a RBI in the title game loss to Puerto Rico.

Mateo then made Cuba's roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.