Dánel Castro, a 47-year-old Cuban baseball player, will try to get closer to 2,500 hits on Monday, in the last game of the regular stage of the 2nd Elite League.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- “La Pantera de Manatí” (the Panther of Manatí) is the historic leader in that department in Cuba’s baseball championships, and he just needs five more hits to reach that goal before retiring.

Luckily for this tireless athlete, his team from Las Tunas reached the playoffs on Sunday, so he will have more opportunities to set his record before the end of the season.

In his entire career, Castro averages 278 on offense, with 388 doubles, 47 triples, 251 home runs, and 1,376 RBIs.

Castro is closely followed by Frederich Cepeda, from Sancti Spiritus, who has accumulated 2,408 hits and although he is 43 years old, he still seems to have fuel to play a few more seasons.

Cepeda is followed by the retired player Enrique Díaz (2,378) and “El Capitán de Capitanes” (the Captain of Captains), Antonio Pacheco (2,356). The active player Yunier Mendoza (2,355) is behind them. (PL)