List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

Last updated

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.

Contents

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

Background

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

Jose Abreu on deck circle at Minute Maid 2014.jpg
José Abreu
Yoenis Cespedes talks to reporters on -WSMediaDay (22277754414).jpg
Yoenis Céspedes
Aroldis Chapman on June 4, 2016 (1).jpg
Aroldis Chapman
Adeiny Hechavarria walked (52981665882) (cropped).jpg
Adeiny Hechavarria
LM-Leonys-Martin20210606.jpg
Leonys Martín
Kendrys Morales awaits a pitch (25620714671).jpg
Kendrys Morales
Rey Ordonez 1999 (2).jpg
Rey Ordóñez
Victor Rivas.jpg
Victor Rivas
Yasmany Tomas.JPG
Yasmany Tomas
Dayan Viciedo Chunichi Dragons 20220527.jpg
Dayán Viciedo
Key
† MLB All-Star
‡Denotes player who is still active
Defectors
PlayerPositionYear defectedMLB debutMLB seasonsRef
José Abreu † First baseman 2013March 31, 20148‡ [20]
Michel Abreu Outfielder 2004—— [21]
Dariel Álvarez Outfielder2012August 28, 20152‡ [22]
Rogelio Álvarez First baseman1963September 18, 19602 [3]
Yordan Alvarez †Outfielder2016June 9, 20193‡ [23]
Jesús Ametller Second baseman 1996—— [24]
Leslie Anderson Outfielder2010—— [25]
René Arocha Pitcher 1991April 9, 19934 [5]
Randy Arozarena †Outfielder2015August 14, 20193‡ [26]
Noel Argüelles Pitcher2008—— [27]
Erisbel Arruebarrena Shortstop 2013May 23, 20141‡ [28]
Rolando Arrojo †Pitcher1996April 1, 19985 [4]
Danys Báez †Pitcher1999May 13, 200110 [29]
Roberto Baldoquin Second baseman2014—— [30]
Alexei Bell Outfielder2016——[ citation needed ]
Yenier Bello Catcher 2013—— [31]
Yuniesky Betancourt Shortstop2003July 28, 20059 [32]
Dairon Blanco Outfielder2016May 20, 20221‡ [33]
Lázaro Blanco Pitcher2021—— [34]
Francisley Bueno Pitcher2004August 13, 20082 [2]
Bárbaro Cañizares First baseman2004June 11, 20091 [35]
Daniel Carbonell Outfielder2013—— [36]
Alberto Castillo Pitcher1993July 8, 20084 [37]
Diosdany Castillo Pitcher2014—— [38]
Rusney Castillo Outfielder2013September 17, 20143‡ [39]
Amaury Cazana Outfielder2005—— [40]
Geisel Cepeda Outfielder2021—— [41]
Yoelkis Céspedes Outfielder2019—— [42]
Yoenis Céspedes †Outfielder2011March 28, 20128‡ [43]
Loidel Chapelli Jr. Outfielder2021—— [44]
Aroldis Chapman †Pitcher2009August 31, 201012‡ [16]
Oscar Colas Outfielder2020March 30, 20231‡ [45]
Roberto Colina First baseman1996—— [5]
Gerardo Concepción Pitcher2011June 21, 20161 [46]
José Contreras †Pitcher2002March 31, 200311 [13]
Josimar Cousín Pitcher2022——[ citation needed ]
Jozzen Cuesta First baseman2013—— [47]
Odrisamer Despaigne Pitcher2013June 23, 20146‡ [48]
Aledmys Díaz Shortstop2012April 5, 20166‡ [22]
Juan Díaz First baseman1995June 12, 20021 [49]
Yandy Díaz Third baseman 2013April 3, 20175‡ [50]
Roenis Elías Pitcher2010April 3, 20146‡ [51]
Yunel Escobar Shortstop2004June 2, 200711 [52]
José Fernández †Pitcher2008April 7, 20134 [53]
José Miguel Fernández Infielder 2015June 8, 20181‡ [54]
Osvaldo Fernández Pitcher1995April 5, 19964 [55]
Bárbaro Garbey First baseman1980April 3, 19843 [1]
Adonis García Outfielder2011May 19, 20153‡ [56]
Adolis García †Outfielder2016August 8, 20183‡ [57]
Onelki García Pitcher2010September 11, 20132‡ [58]
Yasser Gómez Outfielder2008—— [59]
Miguel Alfredo González Pitcher2013September 3, 20141 [60]
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. †Infielder2016April 20, 20184‡ [61]
Luis Enrique Gurriel Jr. Outfielder2024——[ citation needed ]
Yulieski Gurriel Infielder2016August 21, 20166‡ [61]
Alex Guerrero Shortstop2013March 22, 20142 [62]
Vladimir Gutiérrez Pitcher2015May 28, 20211‡ [63]
Adeiny Hechavarria Shortstop2009August 4, 20129‡ [64]
Guillermo Heredia Outfielder2015July 29, 20165‡ [65]
Adrián Hernández Pitcher2000April 21, 20013 [66]
Liván Hernández †Pitcher1995September 24, 199617 [67]
Michel Hernández Catcher1996September 6, 20033 [24]
Orlando Hernández Pitcher1997June 3, 19989 [68]
Yoslan Herrera Pitcher2005July 12, 20082 [69]
Dalier Hinojosa Pitcher2013May 3, 20152 [70]
Andy Ibáñez Second baseman2014May 4, 20211‡ [71]
Yunior Ibarra Catcher2023——[ citation needed ]
José Iglesias †Shortstop2008May 8, 201110‡ [27]
Raisel Iglesias Pitcher2013April 12, 20157‡ [72]
Hansel Izquierdo Pitcher1994April 21, 20021 [73]
Dyan Yamel Jorge Shortstop2020—— [74]
Raudel Lazo Pitcher2011September 5, 20151 [75]
J.C. Linares Outfielder2009——[ citation needed ]
Yoan López Pitcher2014September 9, 20184‡ [76]
Yadel Martí Pitcher2008—— [59]
Leonys Martín Outfielder2010September 2, 20119‡ [77]
J. P. Martínez Outfielder2017August 11, 20231‡ [78]
Yunesky Maya Pitcher2009September 7, 20103‡ [79]
Ubert Mejías Pitcher2021—— [80]
Víctor Víctor Mesa Outfielder2018—— [81]
Juan Miranda First baseman2005September 18, 20084 [82]
Andy Morales Third baseman2000—— [83]
Luis Danys Morales Pitcher2021—— [84]
Kendrys Morales First baseman2004May 23, 200613 [85]
Adrian Morejón Pitcher2015July 21, 20193‡ [86]
Yadil Mujica Shortstop2009—— [87]
Gabriel Eduardo Mustelier Infielder2023——[ citation needed ]
Ronnier Mustelier Outfielder/Third baseman2009—— [88]
Vladimir Núñez Pitcher1995September 11, 19989 [89]
Héctor Olivera Second baseman2014September 1, 20152 [90] [91]
Jorge Oña Outfielder2015September 7, 20202‡ [92]
Rey Ordóñez Shortstop1993April 1, 19969 [5]
Eddie Oropesa Pitcher1993April 2, 20014 [93]
Bill Ortega Outfielder1996September 7, 20011 [24]
Andy Pages Outfielder2017April 16, 20241‡ [94]
Brayan Peña Catcher1999May 23, 200513 [52]
Hassan Peña Pitcher2005—— [95]
Orlando Pérez Infielder2013—— [36]
Ariel Prieto Pitcher1995July 2, 19957 [96]
Iván Prieto Catcher2023—— [97]
Yasiel Puig †Outfielder2012June 3, 20137‡ [98]
Alexei Ramírez †Shortstop2007March 31, 20089‡ [99]
Roberto Carlos Ramírez Shortstop2011—— [99]
Alejandro Regueira Catcher2021—— [100]
Victor Rivas First baseman2013—— [101]
Luis Robert Outfielder2017July 24, 20202‡ [102]
Eddy Rodríguez Catcher1993August 2, 20121 [103]
Larry Rodríguez Pitcher1995—— [89]
Omar Luis Rodriguez Pitcher2012—— [104]
Yariel Rodríguez Pitcher2023April 13, 2024—— [105]
Euclides Rojas Pitcher1994—— [96]
José Julio Ruiz First baseman2009—— [106]
Alex Sánchez Outfielder1994June 15, 20017 [107]
Amauri Sanit Pitcher2006May 12, 20111 [108]
Juan Yasser Serrano Pitcher2009—— [109]
Misael Siverio Pitcher2013—— [110]
Alay Soler Pitcher2003May 24, 20061 [111]
Jorge Soler Outfielder2011August 27, 20148‡ [112]
Deinis Suárez Pitcher2009—— [113]
Michael Tejera Pitcher1994September 8, 19995 [73]
Jorge Toca First baseman1998September 12, 19993 [5] [114]
Yasmany Tomás Outfielder2014April 4, 20154‡ [115]
Henry Urrutia Outfielder2011July 20, 20132‡ [116]
Raúl Valdés Pitcher2003April 11, 20105 [117]
John Valle Pitcher2021——[ citation needed ]
Dayán Viciedo Outfielder2008June 20, 20105‡ [118]

See also

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