List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
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This is a list of notable Cuban baseball players who have defected since the beginning of Fidel Castro's presidency. Prior to the Cuban Revolution, which saw Castro rise to power in 1959, Cuban-born players often played in the American Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball (MLB). Following the revolution, U.S.-Cuba relations became strained, and Castro ended professional baseball in Cuba[1] and forbade Cuban players to play abroad.[2]
Some players defected during the Cold War. Rogelio Álvarez, who debuted in MLB in 1960, was barred from continuing his professional career in the United States, and defected from Cuba through Mexico in 1963.[3] Bárbaro Garbey left Cuba in the Mariel boatlift in 1980.[1] After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba's economy struggled badly and faced severe repercussions from the Embargo.[2] Baseball players began to seek careers in MLB due to the high salaries. In 1991, René Arocha defected. He was followed by Rey Ordóñez in 1993. Rolando Arrojo defected during the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were held in the United States.[4] The Cuban government treats attempted defectors as disloyal, which led to increased defections. Orlando Hernández was loyal to Cuba, until they banned him from the national team following the defection of his half-brother, Liván.[5]
Players attempting to play in MLB often choose not to defect to the United States, because establishing residency in the United States means they must enter the MLB Draft. If they defect to another nation, they can become free agents, allowing them to choose their offer.[6] The largest contract given to a Cuban defector is outfielder Rusney Castillo's seven-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, signed in 2014, worth $72.5 million.[7] First baseman José Dariel Abreu signed a six-year contract worth $68 million with the Chicago White Sox in 2013.[8] The largest contract given to a pitcher was the $32 million the New York Yankees gave to José Contreras in 2002,[9] while the Cincinnati Reds signed Aroldis Chapman for $30.25 million in 2010.[10]
While some players who defect succeed in obtaining multimillion-dollar contracts to play in MLB, many receive only minor league contracts and do not reach MLB.[2] Players are often separated from their families,[11] as Cuba often denies exit visas to the families of players who defected. This can lead to severed relationships, such as between Jorge Toca and the mother of his son.[5]
List[]
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MLB All-Star |
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Denotes player who is still active |
See also[]
- List of Cuban soccer players who have defected to the United States
- List of Major League Baseball players from Cuba
References[]
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- ^ Jump up to: a b "Proquest — Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. March 6, 1963. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f JAMES C. McKINLEY JrPublished: April 25, 1999 (April 25, 1999). "WHAT PRICE GLORY?: A special report.; Cuban Players Defect, but Often With a Cost — New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "With an array of skills, Cuban defector Leonys Martin nearly ready for Rangers | Dallasnews.com — News for Dallas, Texas — SportsDayDFW". Dallasnews.com. August 5, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "Red Sox Agree To Seven-Year Deal With Rusney Castillo". Weei.com. August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ^ "Source: White Sox have deal with Cuban slugger Abreu". MLB.com. October 18, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "ESPN.com: MLB — Contreras agrees to $32M deal with Yankees". Static.espn.go.com. July 18, 2003. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Mark Sheldon (January 10, 2010). "Cuban star Chapman joins Reds | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Life just beginning for Cuban pitching phenom Aroldis Chapman — ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. November 1, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Ebro, Jorge (August 12, 2013). "El pelotero cubano José Dariel Abreu abandona la isla — Deportes" (in Spanish). ElNuevoHerald.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Curry, Jack (September 8, 2005). "Cuban Defector Finds Team, Ending an 18-Month Wait". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
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- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Defector Declined Help Before — New York Times". Nytimes.com. November 10, 1996. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ Jorge Ebro. "El cubano Leslie Anderson ya puede negociar con los equipos de Grandes Ligas — Deportes". ElNuevoHerald.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
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- ^ Baxter, Kevin (December 12, 2005). "Defector just looking for a chance: Cuban Bárbaro Cañizares, who is playing in Nicaragua, wants the opportunity to show he can play in the major leagues". Miami Herald. p. 3D. Retrieved April 12, 2013. (subscription required)
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- ^ Evans, Jeff (August 7, 2008). "'O' what a relief". The Bakersfield Californian. p. D1. Retrieved March 27, 2014.(subscription required)
- ^ "Pitcher Diosdany Castillo Flees Cuba, Training in Mexico". Havana Times.org. August 29, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- ^ "Defection Of Top Cuban Outfielder Rusney Castillo Could Shake Up Free Agent Market". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ "NewsBank for PBP | www.palmbeachpost.com". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
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- ^ Passan, Jeff. "Talented Cuban defector Cespedes is an odd sight — MLB — Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
- ^ "Cuban left-hander Gerardo Concepcion declared a free agent, player agent says". ESPN.com. ESPN. January 18, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
- ^ "Defected Cuban player might be joining his wife in U.S." princegeorgecitizen.com. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "Odrisamer Despaigne, Cuban pitcher, defects while in Europe, according to report — ESPN". Espn.go.com. July 2, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Prest, Ashley (August 7, 2009). "And that one is... JUAN GONE!". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (March 18, 2017). "Straight out of Cuba: Yandy Diaz, Leandro Linares signed with Cleveland Indians after defecting together". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
- ^ Glaser, Kyle (July 17, 2012). "Defecting for a chance: Mavs pitcher Elias left Cuba to chase dream of playing in MLB". vv.dailypress.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Melissa Segura (April 28, 2008). "Growing up a street apart in Cuba, best friends Yunel - 04.28.08 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Rodriguez, Juan C. (April 2, 2013). "Miami Marlins: Top prospect Jose Fernandez credits personal pitching coach Orlando Chinea for speedy ascent to majors". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
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- ^ Badler, Ben (August 30, 2016). "Outfielder Jose Adolis Garcia Leaves Cuba". Baseball America. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ "Dodgers' draft choice Onelki Garcia chasing a dream". June 15, 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez defect from Cuba — ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. December 29, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Hernandez, Dylan (June 6, 2013). "Dodgers eyeing Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Strauss, Ben (February 8, 2016). "Star Brothers Are Apparently the Latest to Defect From Cuba". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ^ "Dodgers may be favorite for Cuban shortstop Alexander Guerrero | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. July 23, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ "Two Cubans playing in Caribbean Series defect". USA Today. February 4, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ King, George A. (February 13, 2010). "Yankees target Cuban SS as Jeter's heir". NYPOST.com. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ^ "Baseball News — Adrian Hernandez defected from Cuba — Cuba Culture News". Havana Journal. March 10, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search
- ^ MURRAY CHASSPublished: December 31, 1997 (December 31, 1997). "BASEBALL; Brother of Hernandez, Hero of Series, Flees Cuba — New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "Herrera's next journey daunting, too — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. January 9, 2007. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ "Right-handed pitcher Dalier Hinojosa of Cuba defects, petitioning MLB to become free agent | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Cuban second baseman Andy Ibanez defects to sign with MLB team — HardballTalk". October 27, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ^ "Righthander Raisel Iglesias Leaves Cuba". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
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- ^ Juan Pérez (November 8, 2015). "Homepage of Victor Rivas, Cuban baseball player". Victor Rivas. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ Katz, Marc (June 5, 2007). "Daring escape brought Dragons catcher to America Cuban-born Eddy Rodriguez and his family crossed stormy seas on a small fishing boat in 1993". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2012. (subscription required)
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- ^ "Misael Siverio, Cuban pitcher, tells newspaper he is defecting — ESPN". Espn.go.com. July 17, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
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- ^ MIREYA NAVARROPublished: March 22, 1998 (March 22, 1998). "Mystery of Missing Baseball Players From Cuba Is Deepening — New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "Power Hitter Yasmani Tomas Leaves Cuba — Baseball America". www.baseballamerica.com. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ Dubroff, Rich. "Urrutia set to make impact with Orioles — Carroll County Times: Baltimore Orioles". Carroll County Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ "New York Mets pitcher Raul Valdes has traveled a difficult path from Cuba to the majors — MLB — ESPN New York". Sports.espn.go.com. April 12, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Josh Alper %BloggerTitle% (June 9, 2008). "Dayan Viciedo Defects From Cuba but May Need To Wait a Year to Begin Playing in MLB". Aolnews.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- Defecting Cuban baseball players
- Lists of Cuban sportspeople
- Lists of baseball players
- Lists of defectors