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.
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 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 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 Dariel 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]
† | MLB All-Star |
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‡ | Denotes player who is still active |
Eisler Liván Hernández Carrera is a Cuban-born former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. Over a 17-year career, he played for nine different teams and was named to two All-Star Games. He was named the MVP of the 1997 World Series with the Florida Marlins. He is the half-brother of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernández.
José Ariel Contreras Camejo is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher, who played in the Cuban National Series (CNS), Major League Baseball (MLB), and internationally for the Cuban national baseball team. He also played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Chinatrust Brothers.
Yunesky Maya Mendizula is a Cuban-born professional baseball pitcher for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. He has previously pitched for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball and Pinar del Río of the Cuban National Series. He was part of the Cuban national baseball team at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Héctor Olivera Amaro is a Cuban former professional baseball left fielder. He was part of the Cuban team that won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves.
Joe Kehoskie is an American baseball consultant, executive, and entrepreneur. He has worked in professional baseball in a variety of capacities since 1984, formerly working in minor league baseball (1984–1994) and as a player agent (1996–2011).
Jorge Carlos Soler Castillo is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins.
Dalier Hinojosa Hernández[dahl-yair' / eeno-hoe'-sah] is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher. Hinojosa pitched for the Indios de Guantánamo of the Cuban National Series and for the Cuban national baseball team before he defected from Cuba in 2012. Hinojosa then played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
Adonis García Arrieta is a Cuban former professional baseball third baseman. He played in the Cuban National Series from 2004 through 2011, and then defected from Cuba. He played for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2015 to 2017 and also played for the LG Twins of the KBO League in 2018.
José Delfín Fernández Gómez was a Cuban-born American professional baseball pitcher who played four seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a member of the Miami Marlins from 2013 until his death in 2016. He stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 243 pounds (110 kg) during his playing career. He was affectionately known as "Niño" to his teammates and fans due to the youthful exuberance with which he played the game.
Miguel Alfredo González Puebla was a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. He played in the Cuban National Series, for the Cuban national baseball team, and in 2014 for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Raisel Iglesias is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. He signed with the Reds as an international free agent in 2014 after defecting from Cuba.
Odrisamer Despaigne Orue is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, and Chicago White Sox.
Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarrena Escalante is a Cuban professional baseball shortstop for the Algodoneros de Guasave of the Mexican Pacific League and the Cocodrilos de Matanzas of the Cuban National Series. Arruebarrena played for Cienfuegos in the Cuban National Series from 2008 through 2012, and played for the Cuba national baseball team in international competition, before defecting from Cuba in 2013 to pursue a Major League Baseball career. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014 before a poor attitude and various violations of team rules led to his banishment to the low minors and eventual release. In 2019, he became the first ex-MLB player to return to the Cuban baseball league system after defecting from the country. He now plays for the Cocodrilos de Matanzas of the Cuban National Series, as well as the Cuba national baseball team.
Rusney Castillo Peraza is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 195 pounds (88 kg), he bats and throws right handed.
Misael Siverio is a Cuban baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.
José Miguel Fernández is a Cuban professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels, in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears, and for the Cuban national baseball team at the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Vladimir Gutiérrez Rodríguez is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher in the Miami Marlins organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds.
Dayron Armando Varona Suarez is a Cuban former professional baseball outfielder.
Luis Robert Moirán Jr. is a Cuban-born professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). After defecting from Cuba in 2016, Robert signed with the White Sox in 2017. He made his MLB debut in 2020. That year, he won the Gold Glove Award. He was named an All-Star in 2023.
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