List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

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]

Orlando "El Duque" Hernández defected from Cuba in 1997

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, 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
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 baseman2013March 31, 2014 4 [12]
Michel Abreu Outfielder2004——[13]
Dariel Álvarez Outfielder2012August 28, 2015 2[14]
Rogelio Álvarez First baseman1963September 18, 19602[3]
Yordan Álvarez Outfielder2016June 9, 2019 1 [15]
Jesús Ametller Second baseman1996——[16]
Leslie Anderson Outfielder2010——[17]
René Arocha Pitcher1991April 9, 19934[5]
Randy Arozarena Outfielder2015August 14, 2019 2 [18]
Noel Argüelles Pitcher2008——[19]
Erisbel Arruebarrena Shortstop2013May 23, 2014 1[20]
Rolando Arrojo Pitcher1996April 1, 19985[4]
Danys Báez Pitcher1999May 13, 200110[21]
Roberto Baldoquin Second baseman2014——[22]
Alexei Bell Outfielder2016——
Yenier Bello Catcher2013——[23]
Yuniesky Betancourt Shortstop2003July 28, 20059[24]
Francisley Bueno Pitcher2004August 13, 20082[2]
Bárbaro Cañizares First baseman2004June 11, 20091[25]
Daniel Carbonell Outfielder2013—— [26]
Alberto Castillo Pitcher1993July 8, 20084[27]
Diosdany Castillo Pitcher2014—— [28]
Rusney Castillo Outfielder2013September 17, 2014 2[29]
Amaury Cazana Outfielder2005——[30]
Yoelkis Céspedes Outfielder2019——[31]
Yoenis Céspedes Outfielder2011March 28, 2012 6[32]
Aroldis Chapman Pitcher2009August 31, 2010 8[11]
Roberto Colina First baseman1996——[5]
Gerardo Concepción Pitcher2011June 21, 20161[33]
José Contreras Pitcher2002March 31, 2003 11[9]
Jozzen Cuesta First baseman2013——[34]
Odrisamer Despaigne Pitcher2013June 23, 2014 2[35]
Aledmys Díaz Shortstop2012April 5, 2016 2[14]
Juan Díaz First baseman1995June 12, 20021[36]
Yandy Díaz Third baseman2013April 3, 20171[37]
Roenis Elías Pitcher2010April 3, 2014 4 [38]
Yunel Escobar Shortstop2004June 2, 2007 11[39]
José Fernández Pitcher2008April 7, 20134[40]
José Miguel Fernández Infielder2015——
Osvaldo Fernández Pitcher1995April 5, 19964[41]
Bárbaro Garbey First baseman1980April 3, 19843[1]
Adonis García Outfielder2011May 19, 2015 3[42]
Adolis García Outfielder2016——[43]
Onelki García Pitcher2010September 11, 2013 2[44]
Yasser Gómez Outfielder2008——[45]
Miguel Alfredo González Pitcher2013September 3, 2014 1 [46]
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Infielder2016April 20, 2018—[47]
Yulieski Gurriel Infielder2016August 21, 2016 2 [47]
Alex Guerrero Shortstop2013March 22, 2014 2 [48]
Vladimir Gutiérrez Pitcher2015——[49]
Adeiny Hechavarria Shortstop2009August 4, 2012 6[50]
Adrián Hernández Pitcher2000April 21, 20013[51]
Liván Hernández Pitcher1995September 24, 199617[52]
Michel Hernández Catcher1996September 6, 20033[16]
Orlando Hernández Pitcher1997June 3, 19989[53]
Yoslan Herrera Pitcher2005July 12, 2008 2 [54]
Dalier Hinojosa Pitcher2013May 3, 2015 2 [55]
Andy Ibáñez Second baseman2014——[56]
José Iglesias Shortstop2008May 8, 2011 7[19]
Raisel Iglesias Pitcher2013April 12, 2015 3 [57]
Hansel Izquierdo Pitcher1994April 21, 20021[58]
Raudel Lazo Pitcher2011September 5, 2015—[59]
Yoan López Pitcher2014——[60]
Yadel Martí Pitcher2008——[45]
Leonys Martín Outfielder2010September 2, 2011 7[61]
Yunesky Maya Pitcher2009September 7, 2010 3[62]
Víctor Víctor Mesa Outfielder2018——
Juan Miranda First baseman2005September 18, 20084[63]
Andy Morales Third baseman2000——[64]
Kendrys Morales First baseman2004May 23, 2006 10[65]
Adrian Morejón Pitcher2015——[66]
Yadil Mujica Shortstop2009——[67]
Ronnier Mustelier Outfielder/Third baseman2009——[68]
Vladimir Núñez Pitcher1995September 11, 19989[69]
Héctor Olivera Second baseman2014September 1, 2015 1 [70][71]
Jorge Oña Outfielder2015——[72]
Rey Ordóñez Shortstop1993April 1, 19969[5]
Eddie Oropesa Pitcher1993April 2, 20014[73]
Bill Ortega Outfielder1996September 7, 20011[16]
Brayan Peña Catcher1999May 23, 2005 13[39]
Hassan Peña Pitcher2005——[74]
Orlando Pérez Infielder2013—— [26]
Ariel Prieto Pitcher1995July 2, 19957[75]
Yasiel Puig Outfielder2012June 3, 2013 5[76]
Alexei Ramírez Shortstop2007March 31, 2008 8[77]
Roberto Carlos Ramírez Shortstop2011——[77]
Victor Rivas First baseman2013——[78]
Luis Robert Outfielder2017——
Eddy Rodríguez Catcher1993August 2, 2012 1 [79]
Larry Rodríguez Pitcher1995——[69]
Omar Luis Rodriguez Pitcher2012——[80]
Euclides Rojas Pitcher1994——[75]
José Julio Ruiz First baseman2009——[81]
Alex Sánchez Outfielder1994June 15, 20017[82]
Amauri Sanit Pitcher2006May 12, 2011 1 [83]
Juan Yasser Serrano Pitcher2009——[84]
Misael Siverio Pitcher2013——[85]
Alay Soler Pitcher2003May 24, 2006 1 [86]
Jorge Soler Outfielder2011August 27, 2014 4 [87]
Deinis Suárez Pitcher2009——[88]
Michael Tejera Pitcher1994September 8, 19995[58]
Jorge Toca First baseman1998September 12, 19993[5][89]
Yasmany Tomás Outfielder2014April 4, 2015 3 [90]
Henry Urrutia Outfielder2011July 20, 2013 2 [91]
Raúl Valdés Pitcher2003April 11, 2010 5[92]
Dayán Viciedo Outfielder2008June 20, 2010 5[93]

See also

References
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