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List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

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This is a list of baseball players who defected from Cuba, consisting of Cuban baseball players who have defected since the beginning of Fidel Castro's presidency.

Orlando "El Duque" Hernández defected from Cuba in 1997.

Background

[edit]

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 (the Cuban League)[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 U.S.[4] The Cuban government treats attempted defectors as disloyal, which led to increased defections. Orlando Hernández was loyal to Cuba, until he was banned 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 U.S. or Canada, because establishing residency there subjects them to the Major League Baseball draft. By defecting to another nation, they can be considered international free agents.[6]

In 2008, Joe Kehoskie, a former baseball agent who represented several dozen Cuban players, told author Michael Lewis, "There’s at least half a billion dollars of baseball players in Cuba right now and probably a lot more."[7] By the end of 2014, approximately 30 subsequent Cuban defectors had signed MLB contracts totaling just under $500 million.[8][9][10]

The largest contract given to a Cuban defector was outfielder Rusney Castillo's seven-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, signed in 2014, worth $72.5 million.[11] First baseman José Abreu signed a six-year contract worth $68 million with the Chicago White Sox in 2013.[12] The largest contract given to a pitcher was the $32 million the New York Yankees gave to José Contreras in 2002,[13] while the Cincinnati Reds signed Aroldis Chapman for $30.25 million in 2010.[14]

While some players who defected have obtained multimillion-dollar contracts to play in MLB, many received only minor-league contracts and did not reach MLB, and many others didn't sign contracts at all.[2][15] Players who defect are often separated from their families,[16] leading to severed relationships, such as between Jorge Toca and the mother of his son.[5]

In late 2018, an agreement was reached between MLB, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), and the Baseball Federation of Cuba. The agreement created a legal path for Cuban baseball players to sign with MLB teams without having to defect.[17] However, the Trump administration declared the agreement illegal and revoked it in April 2019.[18] Since then, players have continued to defect, such as Lázaro Blanco in 2021.[19]

List

[edit]
José Abreu
Yoenis Céspedes
Aroldis Chapman
Adeiny Hechavarria
Leonys Martín
Kendrys Morales
Rey Ordóñez
Victor Rivas
Yasmany Tomas
Dayán Viciedo
Key
† MLB All-Star
‡ Denotes player who is still active
Defectors
Player Position Year defected MLB debut MLB seasons Ref
José Abreu† First baseman 2013 March 31, 2014 8‡ [20]
Michel Abreu Outfielder 2004 — — [21]
Dariel Álvarez Outfielder 2012 August 28, 2015 2‡ [22]
Rogelio Álvarez First baseman 1963 September 18, 1960 2 [3]
Yordan Alvarez† Outfielder 2016 June 9, 2019 3‡ [23]
Jesús Ametller Second baseman 1996 — — [24]
Leslie Anderson Outfielder 2010 — — [25]
René Arocha Pitcher 1991 April 9, 1993 4 [5]
Randy Arozarena† Outfielder 2015 August 14, 2019 3‡ [26]
Noel Argüelles Pitcher 2008 — — [27]
Erisbel Arruebarrena Shortstop 2013 May 23, 2014 1‡ [28]
Rolando Arrojo† Pitcher 1996 April 1, 1998 5 [4]
Danys Báez† Pitcher 1999 May 13, 2001 10 [29]
Roberto Baldoquin Second baseman 2014 — — [30]
Alexei Bell Outfielder 2016 — — [citation needed]
Yenier Bello Catcher 2013 — — [31]
Yuniesky Betancourt Shortstop 2003 July 28, 2005 9 [32]
Dairon Blanco Outfielder 2016 May 20, 2022 1‡ [33]
Lázaro Blanco Pitcher 2021 — — [34]
Francisley Bueno Pitcher 2004 August 13, 2008 2 [2]
Bárbaro Cañizares First baseman 2004 June 11, 2009 1 [35]
Daniel Carbonell Outfielder 2013 — — [36]
Alberto Castillo Pitcher 1993 July 8, 2008 4 [37]
Diosdany Castillo Pitcher 2014 — — [38]
Rusney Castillo Outfielder 2013 September 17, 2014 3‡ [39]
Amaury Cazana Outfielder 2005 — — [40]
Geisel Cepeda Outfielder 2021 — — [41]
Yoelkis Céspedes Outfielder 2019 — — [42]
Yoenis Céspedes† Outfielder 2011 March 28, 2012 8‡ [43]
Loidel Chapelli Jr. Outfielder 2021 — — [44]
Aroldis Chapman† Pitcher 2009 August 31, 2010 12‡ [16]
Oscar Colas Outfielder 2020 March 30, 2023 1‡ [45]
Roberto Colina First baseman 1996 — — [5]
Gerardo Concepción Pitcher 2011 June 21, 2016 1 [46]
José Contreras† Pitcher 2002 March 31, 2003 11 [13]
Josimar Cousín Pitcher 2022 — — [citation needed]
Jozzen Cuesta First baseman 2013 — — [47]
Odrisamer Despaigne Pitcher 2013 June 23, 2014 6‡ [48]
Aledmys Díaz Shortstop 2012 April 5, 2016 6‡ [22]
Juan Díaz First baseman 1995 June 12, 2002 1 [49]
Yandy Díaz Third baseman 2013 April 3, 2017 5‡ [50]
Roenis Elías Pitcher 2010 April 3, 2014 6‡ [51]
Yunel Escobar Shortstop 2004 June 2, 2007 11 [52]
José Fernández† Pitcher 2008 April 7, 2013 4 [53]
José Miguel Fernández Infielder 2015 June 8, 2018 1‡ [54]
Osvaldo Fernández Pitcher 1995 April 5, 1996 4 [55]
Bárbaro Garbey First baseman 1980 April 3, 1984 3 [1]
Adonis García Outfielder 2011 May 19, 2015 3‡ [56]
Adolis García† Outfielder 2016 August 8, 2018 3‡ [57]
Onelki García Pitcher 2010 September 11, 2013 2‡ [58]
Yasser Gómez Outfielder 2008 — — [59]
Miguel Alfredo González Pitcher 2013 September 3, 2014 1 [60]
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.† Infielder 2016 April 20, 2018 4‡ [61]
Luis Enrique Gurriel Jr. Outfielder 2024 — — [citation needed]
Yulieski Gurriel Infielder 2016 August 21, 2016 6‡ [61]
Alex Guerrero Shortstop 2013 March 22, 2014 2 [62]
Vladimir Gutiérrez Pitcher 2015 May 28, 2021 1‡ [63]
Adeiny Hechavarria Shortstop 2009 August 4, 2012 9‡ [64]
Guillermo Heredia Outfielder 2015 July 29, 2016 5‡ [65]
Adrián Hernández Pitcher 2000 April 21, 2001 3 [66]
Liván Hernández† Pitcher 1995 September 24, 1996 17 [67]
Michel Hernández Catcher 1996 September 6, 2003 3 [24]
Orlando Hernández Pitcher 1997 June 3, 1998 9 [68]
Yoslan Herrera Pitcher 2005 July 12, 2008 2 [69]
Dalier Hinojosa Pitcher 2013 May 3, 2015 2 [70]
Andy Ibáñez Second baseman 2014 May 4, 2021 1‡ [71]
Yunior Ibarra Catcher 2023 — — [citation needed]
José Iglesias † Shortstop 2008 May 8, 2011 10‡ [27]
Raisel Iglesias Pitcher 2013 April 12, 2015 7‡ [72]
Hansel Izquierdo Pitcher 1994 April 21, 2002 1 [73]
Dyan Yamel Jorge Shortstop 2020 — — [74]
Raudel Lazo Pitcher 2011 September 5, 2015 1 [75]
J.C. Linares Outfielder 2009 — — [citation needed]
Yoan López Pitcher 2014 September 9, 2018 4‡ [76]
Yadel Martí Pitcher 2008 — — [59]
Leonys Martín Outfielder 2010 September 2, 2011 9‡ [77]
J. P. Martínez Outfielder 2017 August 11, 2023 1‡ [78]
Yunesky Maya Pitcher 2009 September 7, 2010 3‡ [79]
Ubert Mejías Pitcher 2021 — — [80]
Víctor Víctor Mesa Outfielder 2018 — — [81]
Juan Miranda First baseman 2005 September 18, 2008 4 [82]
Andy Morales Third baseman 2000 — — [83]
Luis Danys Morales Pitcher 2021 — — [84]
Kendrys Morales First baseman 2004 May 23, 2006 13 [85]
Adrian Morejón Pitcher 2015 July 21, 2019 3‡ [86]
Yadil Mujica Shortstop 2009 — — [87]
Gabriel Eduardo Mustelier Infielder 2023 — — [citation needed]
Ronnier Mustelier Outfielder/Third baseman 2009 — — [88]
Vladimir Núñez Pitcher 1995 September 11, 1998 9 [89]
Héctor Olivera Second baseman 2014 September 1, 2015 2 [90][91]
Jorge Oña Outfielder 2015 September 7, 2020 2‡ [92]
Rey Ordóñez Shortstop 1993 April 1, 1996 9 [5]
Eddie Oropesa Pitcher 1993 April 2, 2001 4 [93]
Bill Ortega Outfielder 1996 September 7, 2001 1 [24]
Andy Pages Outfielder 2017 April 16, 2024 1‡ [94]
Brayan Peña Catcher 1999 May 23, 2005 13 [52]
Hassan Peña Pitcher 2005 — — [95]
Orlando Pérez Infielder 2013 — — [36]
Ariel Prieto Pitcher 1995 July 2, 1995 7 [96]
Iván Prieto Catcher 2023 — — [97]
Yasiel Puig† Outfielder 2012 June 3, 2013 7‡ [98]
Alexei Ramírez† Shortstop 2007 March 31, 2008 9‡ [99]
Roberto Carlos Ramírez Shortstop 2011 — — [99]
Alejandro Regueira Catcher 2021 — — [100]
Victor Rivas First baseman 2013 — — [101]
Luis Robert Outfielder 2017 July 24, 2020 2‡ [102]
Eddy Rodríguez Catcher 1993 August 2, 2012 1 [103]
Larry Rodríguez Pitcher 1995 — — [89]
Omar Luis Rodriguez Pitcher 2012 — — [104]
Yariel Rodríguez Pitcher 2023 April 13, 2024 — — [105]
Euclides Rojas Pitcher 1994 — — [96]
José Julio Ruiz First baseman 2009 — — [106]
Alex Sánchez Outfielder 1994 June 15, 2001 7 [107]
Amauri Sanit Pitcher 2006 May 12, 2011 1 [108]
Juan Yasser Serrano Pitcher 2009 — — [109]
Misael Siverio Pitcher 2013 — — [110]
Alay Soler Pitcher 2003 May 24, 2006 1 [111]
Jorge Soler Outfielder 2011 August 27, 2014 8‡ [112]
Deinis Suárez Pitcher 2009 — — [113]
Michael Tejera Pitcher 1994 September 8, 1999 5 [73]
Jorge Toca First baseman 1998 September 12, 1999 3 [5][114]
Yasmany Tomás Outfielder 2014 April 4, 2015 4‡ [115]
Henry Urrutia Outfielder 2011 July 20, 2013 2‡ [116]
Raúl Valdés Pitcher 2003 April 11, 2010 5 [117]
John Valle Pitcher 2021 — — [citation needed]
Dayán Viciedo Outfielder 2008 June 20, 2010 5‡ [118]

See also

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References

[edit]
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  114. ^ MIREYA NAVARROPublished: March 22, 1998 (March 22, 1998). "Mystery of Missing Baseball Players From Cuba Is Deepening — New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  115. ^ "Power Hitter Yasmani Tomas Leaves Cuba — Baseball America". www.baseballamerica.com. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  116. ^ 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.
  117. ^ "New York Mets pitcher Raul Valdes has traveled a difficult path from Cuba to the majors — MLB — ESPN New York". ESPN. April 12, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  118. ^ 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.
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