The Cocodrilos de Matanzas (English: Matanzas Crocodiles) are a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Based in Matanzas Province, the Cocodrilos were formed after the dissolution of Henequeneros and Citricultores, two teams from Matanzas. The Cocodrilos have struggled to enjoy the success of their predecessors.

History Before the Yumurine players wore the Gothic M of Matanzas on their flannels in 1967, the name the city had already adorned the official history of winter tournaments in the mythical campaign of 1878–79.

Like that modest combined at the beginning of the circuit in the nineteenth century, the Matanzas of the 60s and 70s, was not the most competitive. Never, stars of the mood of Wilfredo Sánchez, his brother Fernando, Rigoberto Rosique, Tomás Soto, Evelio Hernández, Edwin Walters, Alfredo García, Gaspar Pérez, Luis Fernández, Ernesto William Alfonso or the brothers Félix and Reinaldo Isasi, could they unify their forces in a single gang to defend the walls of the Athens of Cuba.

And while Matanzas stoically endured his permanence at the bottom of the pond until his total disappearance towards the mid-1970s, Henequeneros, the other squad of the land of crocodiles, adorned his souvenir closet with a trophy in the 1969 campaign -70.

In the early 1990s, the winter series competition system was reorganized for the eighth time. After 19 years of absence, a team reappeared with the name of Matanzas. Although, this second version of the squad in the amateur era was also not very prolific in terms of collective results.

Matanzas won the Cuban National Series championship pennant in 2020, defeating Camagüey in the finals, clinching 4-2 overall in 6 games out of seven.

Matanzas finished sixth in the National Series in 2023. Nevertheless, it qualified to the Cuban Elite League in the first year of its new format, promoting the top six teams from the National Series. Matanzas defeated Cazadores de Artemisa in six games to win its first the Elite League and its second championship after 2020.

Roster

Team records +CNS NoSeasonWinnerRunner up3rd PlaceMatanzasManager492009-10IndustrialesVilla ClaraHabana14thWilfredo Menendez502010-11Pinar del RioCiego de AvilaCienfuegos14thWilfredo Menendez512011-12Ciego de AvilaIndustrialesMatanzas3rdVictor Mesa522012-13Villa ClaraMatanzasSanti Spiritus2ndVictor Mesa532013-14Pinar del RioMatanzasIndustriales2ndVictor Mesa542014-15Ciego de AvilaIsla de la JuventudMatanzas3rdVictor Mesa552015-16Ciego de AvilaPinar del RioMatanzas3rdVictor Mesa562016-17GranmaCiego de AvilaMatanzas3rdVictor Mesa572017-18GranmaLas TunasMatanzas3rdVictor Figueroa582018-19Las TunasVilla ClaraSanti Spiritus16thVictor Figueroa592019-20MatanzasCamagüey1st(Series Champion)Armando Ferrer

Notable players Felix Isasi (second baseman) Rigoberto Rosique (outfield) Wilfredo Sanchez (outfield) Jorge Luis Valdez (pitcher) Lazaro Junco (outfield) Julio German Fernandez (first baseman) Juan Manrrique (catcher) Jose (pepito) Estrada (outfield) Yadiel Hernandez (outfield) Yoandry Garlobo (outfield) Michel Abreu (first baseman) Amaury Casañas (outfield) Guillermo Heredia (outfield)

Achievements Awards Most Valuable Player 1996–97 – José Estrada

Rookie of the Year 1968–69 – Armando Sánchez 1992–93 – Vaisel Acosta

See also Matanzas (Cuban League)

References