Multiple reports indicate Cuban second baseman Jose Fernandez has left the island and will seek to play in MLB. For those of you Google-stymied by his also-Cuban namesake, his full name is Jose Miguel Fernandez Diaz. I have Fernandez’s birthday as April 27, 1988, meaning that 2015 will be his age-27 season. He has played played for Matanzas in Serie …
Yasmani Tomas Cuban Stats
Slugging outfielder Yasmani Tomas Bacallao has defected from Cuba. Tomas traveled to Haiti early last week and has since made his way to the Dominican Republic. The story was first reported two days ago by Ben Badler at Baseball America, and has been confirmed by Cuban officials. Tomas is 23, right-handed, and has played in parts of five seasons with Industriales …
Irait Chirino Stats and Video
One of the puzzling things I’ve found in digging into Cuban exiles is just who gets coverage. Jose Abreu has received plenty of attention, of course. But so has Yozzen Cuesta. Cuesta defected from a tournament in Canada last August, and has been mentioned as a promising defector in dozens of articles since. (Even on Deadspin!) The biggest mystery for …
Raicel Iglesias Stats, Video, and a Comparison with Armando Rivero
Raicel Iglesias is a right-handed Cuban pitcher who defected in October of last year. His first attempt failed, after which he hid out until running out of food and water. Iglesias is sometimes known as Raisel (which I actually believe is correct), and commonly misspelled as Raciel. He pitched for Isla de la Juventud in Cuba’s National Series for three seasons, will …
Mets, Red Sox, Others Interested in Cuban Defector Ernesto Molinet
Ernesto Molinet is a 29 year-old first baseman who defected at some point after the 2013 Cuban National Series. Like Daniel Carbonell, Molinet's defection has mainly gone unnoticed in the press. Even Spanish-language accounts are difficult to find. Someone needs to direct his agent to Jesse Sanchez's twitter account. It's possible that Molinet "retired" early in Cuba and received permission to travel …
Dayron Varona Stats
Today's daily defector is Dayron Varona. Varona is a centerfielder from Camaguey. His departure from Cuba was originally reported in November, but that appears to have been inaccurate. Dayron did indeed attempt defection in mid-November, but failed and was suspended. Regardless, he left the country sometime between then and January, and is currently training in Miami. I can't find an accurate …
Rusney Castillo Stats, Scouting Report, and Video
Rusney Castillo is a centerfielder who defected from Cuba last December. He was suspended from international travel and National Series play in August, meaning that this was at least his second attempt at defection. Castillo is 5’9″, 185 pounds, and his game is more speed than power. The Dodgers and Orioles seem to be interested, though he has yet to …
Erisbel Arruebarruena Stats; Aledmys Diaz and Alexander Guerrero Comps
Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena has reportedly agreed to terms with the Dodgers for five years and $25 million. Arruebarruena, who is in desperate need of a nickname (Babar? Belarus?), was reported to have defected in November, but may have escaped in late October. He has yet to be approved by the government. This could be an issue, as he established residency in Haiti, …
Yankees, Blue Jays Interested in Cuban Defector Daniel Carbonell
Last October, center fielder Daniel Carbonell Arredondo and infielder Orlando Perez Darias defected from Cuba. As far as I can tell, their defection has yet to be reported in the American press. Carbonell played for Camaguey in the Cuban National Series from the 2009-10 season through ’12-13. He was suspended last August prior to his successful defection. Carbonell is currently residing in …
Yenier Bello Stats
There have been a number of Cuban defectors since I last checked in with a profile. I hope to get to each of them in time. Despite the Cub front office’s determination to do as little as possible this offseason, I do think there’s a good chance they make a run at one or more of them. Cuban free agents are …
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