List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

Orlando "El Duque" Hernández defected from Cuba in 1997

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 sternly and faced severer repercussions originated 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

Key
dagger MLB All-Star
double-dagger Denotes player who is still active
Defectors
Player Position Year defected MLB debut MLB seasons Ref
Abreu, JoséJosé Abreudagger First baseman2013March 31, 2014 1double-dagger [12]
Abreu, MichelMichel Abreu Outfielder2004[13]
Álvarez, DarielDariel Álvarez Outfielder2012September 12, 2015[14]
Álvarez, RogelioRogelio Álvarez First baseman1963September 18, 19602[3]
Ametller, JesúsJesús Ametller Second baseman1996[15]
Anderson, LeslieLeslie Anderson Outfielder2010[16]
Arocha, RenéRené Arocha Pitcher1991April 9, 19934[5]
Argüelles, NoelNoel Argüelles Pitcher2008[17]
Arruebarrena, ErisbelErisbel Arruebarrena Shortstop2013May 23, 2014 1double-dagger[18]
Arrojo, RolandoRolando Arrojodagger Pitcher1996April 1, 19985[4]
Báez, DanysDanys Báezdagger Pitcher1999May 13, 200110[19]
Baldoquin, RobertoRoberto Baldoquin Second baseman2014[20]
Bello, YenierYenier Bello Catcher2013[21]
Betancourt, YunieskyYuniesky Betancourt Shortstop2003July 28, 2005 9double-dagger[22]
Bueno, FrancisleyFrancisley Bueno Pitcher2004August 13, 20082[2]
Cañizares, BárbaroBárbaro Cañizares First baseman2004June 11, 20091[23]
Carbonell, DanielDaniel Carbonell Outfielder2013 [24]
Castillo, AlbertoAlberto Castillo Pitcher1993July 8, 20084[25]
Castillo, DiosdanyDiosdany Castillo Pitcher2014 [26]
Castillo, RusneyRusney Castillo Outfielder2013September 17, 2014 1double-dagger[27]
Cazana, AmauryAmaury Cazana Outfielder2005[28]
Céspedes, YoenisYoenis Céspedesdagger Outfielder2011March 28, 2012 3double-dagger[29]
Chapman, AroldisAroldis Chapmandagger Pitcher2009August 31, 2010 5double-dagger[11]
Colina, RobertoRoberto Colina First baseman1996[5]
Concepción, GerardoGerardo Concepción Pitcher2011[30]
Contreras, JoséJosé Contrerasdagger Pitcher2002March 31, 2003 11double-dagger[9]
Cuesta, JozzenJozzen Cuesta First baseman2013[31]
Despaigne, OdrisamerOdrisamer Despaigne Pitcher2013June 23, 2014 1double-dagger[32]
Díaz, JuanJuan Díaz First baseman1995June 12, 20021[33]
Díaz, AledmysAledmys Díaz Shortstop2012April 5, 2016[14]
Elías, RoenisRoenis Elías Pitcher2010April 3, 2014 1double-dagger [34]
Escobar, YunelYunel Escobar Shortstop2004June 2, 2007 8double-dagger[35]
Fernández, JoséJosé Fernándezdagger Pitcher2008April 7, 2013 2double-dagger[36]
Fernández, OsvaldoOsvaldo Fernández Pitcher1995April 5, 19964[37]
Garbey, BárbaroBárbaro Garbey First baseman1980April 3, 19843[1]
García, AdonisAdonis García Outfielder2011[38]
Gómez, YasserYasser Gómez Outfielder2008[39]
González, Miguel AlfredoMiguel Alfredo González Pitcher2013September 3, 2014 1double-dagger [40]
Guerrero, AlexanderAlexander Guerrero Shortstop2013March 22, 2014 1double-dagger [41]
Hechavarria, AdeinyAdeiny Hechavarria Shortstop2009August 4, 2012 3double-dagger[42]
Hernández, AdriánAdrián Hernández Pitcher2000April 21, 20013[43]
Hernández, LivánLiván Hernándezdagger Pitcher1995September 24, 199617[44]
Hernández, MichelMichel Hernández Catcher1996September 6, 20033[15]
Hernández, OrlandoOrlando Hernández Pitcher1997June 3, 19989[45]
Herrera, YoslanYoslan Herrera Pitcher2005July 12, 2008 2double-dagger [46]
Hinojosa, DalierDalier Hinojosa Pitcher2013May 3, 2015[47]
Ibañez, AndyAndy Ibañez Second baseman2014[48]
Iglesias, JoséJosé Iglesias Shortstop2008May 8, 2011 4double-dagger[17]
Iglesias, RaiselRaisel Iglesias Pitcher2013April 12, 2015[49]
Izquierdo, HanselHansel Izquierdo Pitcher1994April 21, 20021[50]
Lazo, RaudelRaudel Lazo Pitcher2011September 5, 2015[51]
Martí, YadelYadel Martí Pitcher2008[39]
Martín, LeonysLeonys Martín Outfielder2010September 2, 2011 4double-dagger[52]
Maya, YuneskyYunesky Maya Pitcher2009September 7, 2010 4double-dagger[53]
Miranda, JuanJuan Miranda First baseman2005September 18, 20084[54]
Moncada, YoanYoan Moncada Infielder2014[55]
Morales, AndyAndy Morales Third baseman2000[56]
Morales, KendrysKendrys Morales First baseman2004May 23, 2006 7double-dagger[57]
Mujica, YadilYadil Mujica Shortstop2009[58]
Núñez, VladimirVladimir Núñez Pitcher1995September 11, 19989[59]
Olivera, HéctorHéctor Olivera Second baseman2014September 1, 2015[60][61]
Ordóñez, ReyRey Ordóñez Shortstop1993April 1, 19969[5]
Oropesa, EddieEddie Oropesa Pitcher1993April 2, 20014[62]
Ortega, BillBill Ortega Outfielder1996September 7, 20011[15]
Peña, BrayanBrayan Peña Catcher1999May 23, 2005 10double-dagger[35]
Peña, HassanHassan Peña Pitcher2005[63]
Pérez, OrlandoOrlando Pérez Infielder2013 [24]
Prieto, ArielAriel Prieto Pitcher1995July 2, 19957[64]
Puig, YasielYasiel Puigdagger Outfielder2012June 3, 2013 2double-dagger[65]
Ramírez, AlexeiAlexei Ramírezdagger Shortstop2007March 31, 2008 6double-dagger[66]
Ramírez, Roberto CarlosRoberto Carlos Ramírez Shortstop2011[66]
Rivas, VictorVictor Rivas First baseman2013[67]
Rodríguez, EddyEddy Rodríguez Catcher1993August 2, 2012 1double-dagger [68]
Rodríguez, LarryLarry Rodríguez Pitcher1995[59]
Rodriguez, Omar LuisOmar Luis Rodriguez Pitcher2012[69]
Rojas, EuclidesEuclides Rojas Pitcher1994[64]
Ruiz, José JulioJosé Julio Ruiz First baseman2009[70]
Sánchez, AlexAlex Sánchez Outfielder1994June 15, 20017[71]
Sanit, AmauriAmauri Sanit Pitcher2006May 12, 2011 1 [72]
Serrano, Juan YasserJuan Yasser Serrano Pitcher2009[73]
Siverio, MisaelMisael Siverio Pitcher2013[74]
Soler, AlayAlay Soler Pitcher2003May 24, 2006 1 [75]
Soler, JorgeJorge Soler Outfielder2011August 27, 2014 1double-dagger [76]
Suárez, DeinisDeinis Suárez Pitcher2009[77]
Tejera, MichaelMichael Tejera Pitcher1994September 8, 19995[50]
Toca, JorgeJorge Toca First baseman1998September 12, 19993[5][78]
Tomás, YasmanyYasmany Tomás Outfielder2014April 4, 2015[79]
Urrutia, HenryHenry Urrutia Outfielder2011July 20, 20132double-dagger[80]
Valdés, RaúlRaúl Valdés Pitcher2003April 11, 2010 4double-dagger[81]
Viciedo, DayánDayán Viciedo Outfielder2008June 20, 2010 5double-dagger[82]

See also

References

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