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  Cuban Baseball Players Defect

Arrive in Nicaragua

  By: Josh Hodgson

 MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- Seven Cubans, including five baseball players, arrived in Managua after being plucked from the boat in which they fled Cuba several days ago.  The Cubans became the latest baseball players to abandon their Caribbean island, following the highly publicized flight of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez a few years ago.  Hernandez fled to Costa Rica and signed a minor league contract with the Mexico Snakes.  Hernandez has failed to meet the expectations of Mexico and has since been traded; he is currently in the Austin organization.  

The Nicaraguan government granted the five men and two women temporary refugee status. One of the Cubans, pitcher Juan Castro, told a local radio station he was unsure where the group would go or whether they would stay in Nicaragua.  A State Department spokesman, citing "special circumstances," said that Castro, the two woman, and the remaining four players who fled Cuba will most likely be cleared to enter the United States. 

Once cleared, the Cubans are expected to file for free agency and sign with an Empire League Team.  According to Jeff Pickering, ELB Commissioner, “The League has already received their request for free agent status and once the State Department clears their entry, each Cuban player will be granted free agent status.”  The other Cuban players requesting free agent status include  C Jose Pito, SS Omar Vazquez, 3B Carlos Tejada, and CF Miguel Veras. 

SP Juan Castro, Age 28 

(AS 87, EN  84, CO 79, FB 79, CB 65, CU 52, SI 59)       

Pitcher Juan Castro is the ace of the Cuban National Team.  Castro pitched seven scoreless innings against the East Texas Tornado during a Goodwill exhibition game held in Cuba two years ago.  Castro has a good fastball with an assortment of pitches including a sharp-breaking curveball, a better than average change-up, and a hard sinker.  He has used these pitches to post a 36-8 record and a 2.25 ERA over the past two seasons in Cuba.  Interested teams include the Mexico Snakes, Camden Criminals, and Homestead Greys.  Baseball experts predict that teams looking to sign Castro can expect to pay in excess of $10 million a year for his services. 

C  Jose Pito, Age 30 

(CH 65, PH 65, SP 53, AS 74, FA 65)       

Jose Pito is one of those rare players that combines solid contact and power along with exceptional defensive ability at the catcher position.  Pito is the starting catcher for the National Team and has posted solid numbers over his 12 year career.  Pito has hit over .285 with 25 homeruns and over 90 RBI’s the last five seasons in Cuba.  Rumors persist that the San Antonio Storm are the favorites to sign Pito.  The catcher has already worked out for a Storm scout in Nicaragua; the team was extremely impressed with his ability and is looking to sign him due to the recent trade of C Javy Lopez to the Fort Gibson Sand Gnats. 

SS Omar Vazquez, Age 29 

(CH 72, PH 38, SP 68, AS 82, FA 85)      

Shortstop Omar Vazquez is a defensive specialist at the shortstop position.  He doesn’t have much power but makes up for it with exceptional contact hitting and speed.  Last season, Vazquez hit .322 and stole over 35 bases in the Cuban League.  Vazquez is only 29 years old; he  is entering the prime of his career and will only get better.

3B Carlos Tejada, Age 27 

(CH 68, PH 79, SP 51, AS 68, FA62)

Hard hitting Carlos Tejada has hit over .300, with at least 35 home runs and 115 RBI’s the last two season in Cuba.  Tejada is also pretty good with the golve; he’s been named to the all defensive team the last two years as well.  Tejada is an emerging talent that will definitely add power to any team’s lineup. 

CF Miguel Veras, Age 29 

(CH 67, PH 42, SP 79, AS 62, FA 79)      

Speedy centerfielder  Miguel Veras is a solid defensive outfielder with great contact ability. Veras is a career .280 hitter but at age 29, had the best season of his career last year.  He hit over .300 for the first time in his career while stealing a league leading 56 bases in the Cuban League.  Veras’ blazing speed, solid defensive ability, and great contact will improve any team’s offensive attack. 

Information regarding the free agent bidding process will be available soon.

 



Cuban Infusion!


Empire League Team Notes

NL East Beat

Tim Zahner

NL Central Beat

Josh Hodgson

NL West Beat

Chris Rowe

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Pete Rosegger

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Zac Pringle

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Jeremy Widder



Empire League Front Office

Commissioner:

Jeff Pickering

NL President:

Zac Pringle

AL President:

Eric Speir

League Officer:

Matt Birch


 
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