San Juan, Puerto Rico --
maybe it is a sign of what's now possible within Cuba, but more importantly,
what can become regarding the relations
between the U.S. its beleaguered neighbor. As a preview, in the world of
baseball: there are now 19 Cubans in MLB rosters.
Regarding the first
scenario, 'El Duque' Orlando Hernandez's wife and children were allowed by the
Cuban government to unite with him while still on the Yankees, and after his
illustrious career in the 'Big Show' ended, El Duque returned to visit his native land. Quite a
difference when one considers he was once banned from Cuban baseball in his
native land after being detained by Cuban State Security, and interrogated on a
relationship to an American Sports agent. Returning to the independent
island-nation is now possible for many Cuban players; it does show a change of
the times: the once tight governmental control in Cuba has been evolving
to something else; only now the ending of the U.S. embargo (because most
players would like to return home, yes, with money) can determine if Cuba continues its path
of being the next source of Latino baseball players after the Dominican
Republic (83), Venezuela (59)and a distance third from Puerto Rico (17). and
the few from other Latin American countries.
Last season had 15
Cubans in MLB rosters and with this year's 19, after the two biggest Latin
American countries cited above, Cuba has become a country with the most players
born outside the U.S. Puerto Rico, neither a state nor an
independent nation, comes in fourth place.
As of this writing an
outstanding Cuban player making headlines has been Chicago White Sox first
baseman José Abreu who played for Cienfuegos in the Cuban League and was an integral
member of its national team. He has been the American League's homerun and RBI
leader. Abreu led both leagues in both departments until Giancarlo Stanton
surpassed him in Runs Batted In recently.
In October of 2013
Chicago offered José Abreu a 68 million 5-year contract. Chicago management must
be glad on its investment return; after the first 30 games in 2014 , José Abreu
has 11 homers and 33 RBI -- both a record for a rookie in that span of time
beginning a season. Yet he struck out 28 times and walked only 9 times, but all
things being equal, or is it considered? -- his great start offers a
glimpse of what Abreu can accomplish if he stays free of injury for the long
haul ahead.
In addition to José
Abreu, the White Sox have 3 more Cubans that at times may be in the same
lineup: Catcher Adrián Nieto, outfielder Dayán Viciedo and its regular
shortstop Alexei Ramirez (batting .328).
From
the L.A. Dodgers we have the colorful Yasiel Puig, only 23 years old, (.309 BA)
who started lukewarm but began to pick up his game.
The
Miami Marlins feature another José,
Fernandez (4-1 with a 1.74 ERA) who has become a thorn in the side of the
Atlanta 'Braves;' in one game he punched out 14 of these miss-named team
batters and has beaten Atlanta twice this season, both times by a score of 1-0
on eight innings each time. Fernandez was
named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April.
And on and on. So,
reader, if you know something, say something about any of these 19 Cuban
players including how they made their way to MLB from the Caribbean island the
U.S. would love to ....(Okay, I am for ending the U.S. Embargo, but Latinos
Sports is tolerant of other point of views as long as it is civil).
The above article is
partially an adaptation from an El Nuevo Día newspaper "Ponen su sazón los
cubanos" by Joel Ortiz Rivera; Sunday, May 4th 20014
Cubans in the Big
Leagues
1. Adrián Neto Chicago
White Sox
2.
Adeiny Hechavarría Miami Marlins
3.
Alexander Guerrero LA Dodgers
4.
Yosián Herrera LA Angels
5.
Dayán Viciedo Chicago White Sox
6. Roenis Elías Seattle
Mariners
7. Aroidis Chapman
Cincinnati Reds
8.
Yasmani Grandal San Diego Padres
9.
José Iglesias Detroit Tigers
10. Leonys Martín Texas Rangers
11. Brayan Peña
Cincinnati Reds
12.
Yonder Alonso San Diego Padres
13.
Yunel Escobar Tampa Rays
14.
Onelki García LA Dodgers
15.
José Abreu Chicago White Sox
16 José
Fernández Miami Marlins´
17. Alexei Ramirez
Chicago Whiet Sox
18. Yasiel Puig LA Dodgers
19 Yoenis Céspedes Oakland
As
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