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Other players related to Puerto Rico but not included in the list
The following baseball players were not considered for the official list of Puerto Ricans in Major Leagues:
Guillermo Angulo- When he played for the 1929 Pelayo Chacon's Stars of Cuba, this was an Independent Barnstorming (road) team and not affiliated to any official negro league.
Tomás "Añil" Bonilla- According to historians, he played as a catcher for the Philadelphia Stars in 1949. Not eligible for this year the league were not recognized as major.
Alex Bregman- Fluently speaking in Spanish, the Houston Astros star told the press his interest in playing for Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic, yet is not eligible due to only his grandmother's spouse is Puerto Rican.
José Antonio Burgos- Played for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, but played in 1949, a period not eligible to be considered as a major league.
Triston Casas- Made his debut for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. His great-grandmother is Puerto Rican.
Pedro Cepeda- One of the most powerful Puerto Rican baseball players ever, Perucho was included in the 1940s New York Cubans roster, but refused to debut.
Gabriel Cancel- Infielder activated by Kansas City Royals in 2022 as a part of the practice squad or "taxi squad", a concept used to replace players in COVID-19 emergency times. No major league debut for him so far.
Rafael Concepción (Fellito)- He was Monchile's brother. According to Seamheads.com, he played shortstop for the 1937 Cuban Stars East 2, an independent negro leagues baseball club.
Roberto Concepción Covas- An extraordinary all-around Puerto Rican player in the 1930s Negro leagues, but played for independent clubs which make him not eligible. However, he does not appear in any baseball reference site, so he is still on research until further data becomes available.
Coco Crisp- According to some notes, his father is from Italian and Puerto Rican descent.
Rafael Cruz- May be "Tunito" was the first Puerto Rican to work in the Negro Leagues when he pitched for Pelayo Chacon's Cuban Stars (East) in 1918 and possibly until 1920. But, for those years the team was still competing in the Eastern Independent Clubs. Therefore, he is not classified as a major league player.
Edwin Encarnación- Dominican baseball player whose teen years were spent in Puerto Rico, where he learned to play the sport and lived for five years. Not eligible.
Francisco Faberlle- Not too much information about him. Nicknamed "Ciqui", he is still under on-going research about any plate appearance with the short-lived 1926 Newark Stars.
Mychal Givens- Relief pitcher of Puerto Rican great-grandmother. Not eligible, but PR Team for the WBC was interested in his services, if any consideration.
Gianpaul González- Was ascended for the 2021 Cleveland Indians big team as part of a "taxi squad", but never played. Did not officially debut in MLB.
Ramon Guilfucci- Some Puerto Rican historians presented evidence of his participation with the 1925 Philadelphia Giants (an independent team by then), but also is under on-going research about any plate appearance with the short-lived 1926 Newark Stars.
Reggie Jackson- MLB included him on 2012 All Time Latino Team since his grandmother was Puerto Rican according to some media. Reggie is still alive, yet has not provided enough data.
Armando Moreno- Though in uniform for two days for the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates, Moreno did not officially debut in MLB.
Noel Oquendo- Played in the minor leagues, but no evidence of any major negro league activity.
Julio Ortiz Arango- Larry Lester's Negro Leagues book billed him as Bill Ortiz, playing for the 1945 Indy Clowns, but still no evidence that he ever played a game. Other names used were Bill Ortie and William Ortiz.
Tony Pérez- Puerto Rican by "adoption", HOF Atanasio "Tany" Pérez was born in Cuba and is the father of Eduardo Pérez, of Puerto Rican mother.
Andrés Pulliza- This left handed pitcher made his negro minor league debut in 1947. There is no evidence about any participation with the 1947 Atlanta Black Crackers.
Nenene Rivera- Aniceto Rivera played for the Pollock's Cuban Stars in 1933. Specifically for that year, the team was an independent club, not affiliated to the East-West Negro League, therefore he is not eligible.
Pedro Ramírez- Not too much information about this pitcher, only that he played for the 1934 Cubans Stars East as an independent team. Appears at Seamheads.com only as "Ramirez".
Gerardo Rodríguez- Played as pitcher in the minor leagues, yet no evidence of any appearance with the 1944 New York Cubans other than a book called Puente Roto.
Néstor Sabater- An outfielder named Nestor S. appears in the appendix of the book "Only the Ball was White" by Robert Peterson. Also, according to newspapers from Puerto Rico, he appears in some pictures wearing the 1926 Lincoln Giants uniform. Another photo shows him with the short lived Newark Stars (1926). If he had some participation with those teams, it's still under research, according to baseball historians Jorge Colón Delgado and Gary Ashwill. The Negro League book by Clark and Lester mentions an outfielder named Jace S. Nestor with the 1926 Lincoln Giants, while Ashwill made some notes on Agate Type webpage about a player with the same name mentioned when the Newark Stars were scouting in Puerto Rico. It is not sure if it is the same player.
José "Pepe" Santana- On-going research. According to some notes, Pepe played as first baseman with 1925 Philadelphia Giants, then an independent team.
Juan "Camarón" Sosa- Not too much information about him. Still under on-going research about any plate appearance with the short-lived 1926 Newark Stars.
Francisco Sostre- According to some media, Sostre was included on 1947 New York Cubans roster, but not enough data to confirm that he officially debuted.
Giancarlo Stanton- Puerto Rican great-grandmother, not eligible for the official list.
Tetelo Vargas- Born in Dominican Republic, Juan Esteban Vargas was an idol in every place he played, including the Puerto Rican winter baseball league, where he played for many years. Puerto Rico was so special for him, that he decided to marry and live his late years in the island. He was even buried in Guayama, PR, but still not eligible.
José Luis Velázquez- Played with Indianapolis Clowns in 1948. According to several sources, a pitcher named José Velásquez from Cuba, participated in one official game, though some local Indiana newspapers says he was Puerto Rican. Also, it looks that he has been mistaken with another great pitcher from Puerto Rico named Manuel Laru Velázquez. Both played in the Puerto Rican baseball league.
Ozzie Virgil Sr.- Born in Dominican Republic, SOME EXPERTS INCLUDE HIM IN THE OFFICIAL LIST, since he lived in PR for more than 12 years, was active in the local league and his son Ozzie Jr. was born in Puerto Rico.
Players mistaken as Puerto Ricans or major leaguers
Jarren Duran- Before his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, he was sent to the Puerto Rican Winter League and also played during the Caribbean Baseball Series representing Puerto Rico, but his parents are from Mexico.
Danny Garcia-1981 KC Royals outfielder. Although he played in Puerto Rican Winter League, Brooklyn's native has no Puerto Rican roots.
Willis Otañez- Dominican player who may be was mistakenly placed as a Puerto Rican in some baseball trading cards, since he was born in La Vega Baja,DR, not Vega Baja,PR.
Manuel Larú Velázquez- This Coamo, PR pitcher apparently has been mistaken with Cuban pitcher Jose Luis Larú Velázquez, who is also on research, due to some media calling him "boricua".
