By Pavhel Rochin

Los Tomateros de Culiacán continue to strengthen their roster for the 2026-2027 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico season, announcing the signing of Cuban right-handed pitcher Norge Ruiz. The 32-year-old pitcher has experience in his country's baseball, minor leagues, Major League Baseball, and various Caribbean winter circuits, so he will join the "guinda" nine as an option to integrate the starting rotation.

Ruiz began to stand out from his early years in the Cuban National Series. During the 2012-2013 season, he registered an ERA of 1.97 and, a year later, led the circuit in strikeouts with 94. Subsequently, in December 2016, he signed with the Oakland Athletics and spent six seasons within their farm system, reaching Triple-A. His Major League debut occurred on August 19, 2022, against Seattle, a season in which he had 14 appearances with Oakland.

The new "guinda" reinforcement also knows winter baseball, as he has participated with Águilas Cibaeñas and Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Republic, in addition to having experience in the Mexican Pacific League. Last season, he worked with Leones del Escogido and finished with a 3.38 ERA in eight starts. Over 13 professional seasons, he has accumulated 852 innings pitched and 583 strikeouts, numbers that support the experience he will bring to the Tomateros' pitching staff, where he will be under the orders of manager Lorenzo Bundy.