List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

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File:El Duque and his cigar!.jpg
Orlando "El Duque" Hernández defected from Cuba in 1997

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.

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 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 agreement was ruled illegal and was negated in April 2019.[18] Since then, players have continued to defect, such as Lázaro Blanco in 2021.[19]

List

180px
José Abreu
Yoenis Céspedes
Aroldis Chapman
180px
Adeiny Hechavarria
180px
Leonys Martín
180px
Kendrys Morales
180px
Rey Ordóñez
180px
Victor Rivas
180px
Yasmany Tomas
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Dayán Viciedo
Key
dagger MLB All-Star
double-dagger Denotes player who is still active
Defectors
Player Position Year defected MLB debut MLB seasons Ref
José Abreudagger First baseman 2013 March 31, 2014 8double-dagger [20]
Michel Abreu Outfielder 2004 — — [21]
Dariel Álvarez Outfielder 2012 August 28, 2015 2double-dagger [22]
Rogelio Álvarez First baseman 1963 September 18, 1960 2 [3]
Yordan Álvarezdagger Outfielder 2016 June 9, 2019 3double-dagger [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 3double-dagger [26]
Noel Argüelles Pitcher 2008 — — [27]
Erisbel Arruebarrena Shortstop 2013 May 23, 2014 1double-dagger [28]
Rolando Arrojodagger Pitcher 1996 April 1, 1998 5 [4]
Danys Báezdagger 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 1double-dagger [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 3double-dagger [39]
Amaury Cazana Outfielder 2005 — — [40]
Geisel Cepeda Outfielder 2021 — — [41]
Yoelkis Céspedes Outfielder 2019 — — [42]
Yoenis Céspedesdagger Outfielder 2011 March 28, 2012 8double-dagger [43]
Loidel Chapelli Jr. Outfielder 2021 — — [44]
Aroldis Chapmandagger Pitcher 2009 August 31, 2010 12double-dagger [16]
Roberto Colina First baseman 1996 — — [5]
Gerardo Concepción Pitcher 2011 June 21, 2016 1 [45]
José Contrerasdagger Pitcher 2002 March 31, 2003 11 [13]
Jozzen Cuesta First baseman 2013 — — [46]
Odrisamer Despaigne Pitcher 2013 June 23, 2014 6double-dagger [47]
Aledmys Díaz Shortstop 2012 April 5, 2016 6double-dagger [22]
Juan Díaz First baseman 1995 June 12, 2002 1 [48]
Yandy Díaz Third baseman 2013 April 3, 2017 5double-dagger [49]
Roenis Elías Pitcher 2010 April 3, 2014 6double-dagger [50]
Yunel Escobar Shortstop 2004 June 2, 2007 11 [51]
José Fernándezdagger Pitcher 2008 April 7, 2013 4 [52]
José Miguel Fernández Infielder 2015 June 8, 2018 1double-dagger
Osvaldo Fernández Pitcher 1995 April 5, 1996 4 [53]
Bárbaro Garbey First baseman 1980 April 3, 1984 3 [1]
Adonis García Outfielder 2011 May 19, 2015 3double-dagger [54]
Adolis Garcíadagger Outfielder 2016 August 8, 2018 3double-dagger [55]
Onelki García Pitcher 2010 September 11, 2013 2double-dagger [56]
Yasser Gómez Outfielder 2008 — — [57]
Miguel Alfredo González Pitcher 2013 September 3, 2014 1 [58]
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.dagger Infielder 2016 April 20, 2018 4double-dagger [59]
Yulieski Gurriel Infielder 2016 August 21, 2016 6double-dagger [59]
Alex Guerrero Shortstop 2013 March 22, 2014 2 [60]
Vladimir Gutiérrez Pitcher 2015 May 28, 2021 1double-dagger [61]
Adeiny Hechavarria Shortstop 2009 August 4, 2012 9double-dagger [62]
Guillermo Heredia Outfielder 2015 July 29, 2016 5double-dagger [63]
Adrián Hernández Pitcher 2000 April 21, 2001 3 [64]
Liván Hernándezdagger Pitcher 1995 September 24, 1996 17 [65]
Michel Hernández Catcher 1996 September 6, 2003 3 [24]
Orlando Hernández Pitcher 1997 June 3, 1998 9 [66]
Yoslan Herrera Pitcher 2005 July 12, 2008 2 [67]
Dalier Hinojosa Pitcher 2013 May 3, 2015 2 [68]
Andy Ibáñez Second baseman 2014 May 4, 2021 1double-dagger [69]
José Iglesias dagger Shortstop 2008 May 8, 2011 10double-dagger [27]
Raisel Iglesias Pitcher 2013 April 12, 2015 7double-dagger [70]
Hansel Izquierdo Pitcher 1994 April 21, 2002 1 [71]
Dyan Yamel Jorge Shortstop 2020 — — [72]
Raudel Lazo Pitcher 2011 September 5, 2015 1 [73]
Yoan López Pitcher 2014 September 9, 2018 4double-dagger [74]
Yadel Martí Pitcher 2008 — — [57]
Leonys Martín Outfielder 2010 September 2, 2011 9double-dagger [75]
Yunesky Maya Pitcher 2009 September 7, 2010 3double-dagger [76]
Ubert Mejías Pitcher 2021 — — [77]
Víctor Víctor Mesa Outfielder 2018 — —
Juan Miranda First baseman 2005 September 18, 2008 4 [78]
Andy Morales Third baseman 2000 — — [79]
Luis Danys Morales Pitcher 2021 — — [80]
Kendrys Morales First baseman 2004 May 23, 2006 13 [81]
Adrian Morejón Pitcher 2015 July 21, 2019 3double-dagger [82]
Yadil Mujica Shortstop 2009 — — [83]
Ronnier Mustelier Outfielder/Third baseman 2009 — — [84]
Vladimir Núñez Pitcher 1995 September 11, 1998 9 [85]
Héctor Olivera Second baseman 2014 September 1, 2015 2 [86][87]
Jorge Oña Outfielder 2015 September 7, 2020 2double-dagger [88]
Rey Ordóñez Shortstop 1993 April 1, 1996 9 [5]
Eddie Oropesa Pitcher 1993 April 2, 2001 4 [89]
Bill Ortega Outfielder 1996 September 7, 2001 1 [24]
Brayan Peña Catcher 1999 May 23, 2005 13 [51]
Hassan Peña Pitcher 2005 — — [90]
Orlando Pérez Infielder 2013 — — [36]
Ariel Prieto Pitcher 1995 July 2, 1995 7 [91]
Iván Prieto Catcher 2023 — — [92]
Yasiel Puigdagger Outfielder 2012 June 3, 2013 7double-dagger [93]
Alexei Ramírezdagger Shortstop 2007 March 31, 2008 9double-dagger [94]
Roberto Carlos Ramírez Shortstop 2011 — — [94]
Alejandro Regueira Catcher 2021 — — [95]
Victor Rivas First baseman 2013 — — [96]
Luis Robert Outfielder 2017 July 24, 2020 2double-dagger
Eddy Rodríguez Catcher 1993 August 2, 2012 1 [97]
Larry Rodríguez Pitcher 1995 — — [85]
Omar Luis Rodriguez Pitcher 2012 — — [98]
Euclides Rojas Pitcher 1994 — — [91]
José Julio Ruiz First baseman 2009 — — [99]
Alex Sánchez Outfielder 1994 June 15, 2001 7 [100]
Amauri Sanit Pitcher 2006 May 12, 2011 1 [101]
Juan Yasser Serrano Pitcher 2009 — — [102]
Misael Siverio Pitcher 2013 — — [103]
Alay Soler Pitcher 2003 May 24, 2006 1 [104]
Jorge Soler Outfielder 2011 August 27, 2014 8double-dagger [105]
Deinis Suárez Pitcher 2009 — — [106]
Michael Tejera Pitcher 1994 September 8, 1999 5 [71]
Jorge Toca First baseman 1998 September 12, 1999 3 [5][107]
Yasmany Tomás Outfielder 2014 April 4, 2015 4double-dagger [108]
Henry Urrutia Outfielder 2011 July 20, 2013 2double-dagger [109]
Raúl Valdés Pitcher 2003 April 11, 2010 5 [110]
Dayán Viciedo Outfielder 2008 June 20, 2010 5double-dagger [111]

See also

References

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