|
Player
|
Defection
|
Notes
|
|
Cuban Team
|
|
Rene Arocha
|
Defects on July 4, 1991
|
Signed for $15,000 with St. Louis in 1991 - Played for St. Louis 1993-95 - injured elbow in 1996 - Pitched in Mexico in 1999.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Rolando Arrojo
|
Pitcher defected in 1996 just before the Atlanta Olympics
|
Signed for $7 million by Tampa Bay and made 1998 All-Star game - Played Rockies then Red Sox in 2000 to 02.
|
|
Villa Clara
|
|
Danys Baez
|
Pitcher defected at Pan Am Games in 1999
|
With Indians 2001-03 and Tampa Bay 2004-05. Currently the closer for the Dodgers.
|
|
|
|
Yuniesky Betancourt
|
July 2003
|
Signed a 4 year $2,826,000 contract with the Mariners. Currently playing for Mariners.
|
|
Villa Clara
|
|
Jose Ariel Contreras
|
Defected on October 1, 2002 from the Americas Cup in Mexico
|
Signed with the Yankees for $32 million for 4 years. Traded to the White Sox in 2004. Currently the White Sox Ace.
|
|
Pinar del Rio
|
|
Juan Carlos Diaz
|
Dodgers get player out of Cuba by having a Dominican women pose as his wife in June 1999
|
Played with Red Sox in 2002. Last played for the Memphis Redbirds (AAA).
|
|
|
|
Yunel Escobar
|
Left Cuba by boat October 2004
|
Currently with the Atlanta Braves.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Osvaldo Fernandez
|
Defected in Tennessee
|
Pitcher signed for $3.2 million with San Francisco. Played for the Giants in 1996-97 and Reds 2000-01. Last with the Tabasco Olmecas of the Mexican League.
|
|
Ciudad Havana
|
|
Barbaro Garbey
|
Left Cuba through Mariel in 1980
|
Played with the Tigers 1984-85 and for Texas in 1988
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Adrian Hernandez
|
Pitcher left Cuba on New Year's Day 2000 flying out of the Airport
|
Signed a $4 million contract for Yankees. Made pitching debut in 2001. Last with the Vaqueros Laguna of the Mexican League.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Livan Hernandez
|
Defected in Mexico
|
Pitcher was World Series MVP for Florida in 1997 - With Florida 1996-99 and Giants in 1999 to 2002. With Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals 2003 to present.
|
|
Isla de la Juventud
|
|
Michel Hernandez
|
Catcher defected in 1996
|
Made his debut with Yankees on September 6, 2003. Currently with the Memphis Redbirds (AAA Cardinals).
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Orlando Hernandez
|
Defected in boat December 1997
|
With Yankees 1998 to 2002 and again 2004. With the White Sox in 2005-06 and traded to Mets in 2006. Currently with the Mets.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Hansel Izquierdo
|
Defected at Miami Int'l Airport in 1993
|
Drafted by Marlins in 1995. He had his debut in 2002 with the Marlins. Spent 2003 in the Red Sox organization. Currently with the Petroleros de Poza Rica (AAA).
|
|
Cuban Junior National Team
|
|
Kendry Morales
|
June 7, 2004 via boat to Miami
|
Signed with Angels. Currently with the Los Angeles Angels.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Vladimir Nuņez
|
Pitcher signed for $1.8 million with Arizona after defecting in Venezuela in 1995
|
With Arizona 1998-99, with Marlins 1999-2003, and Colorado in 2004. Currently with the Charlotte Knights (AAA White Sox).
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Edilberto Oropesa
|
Defected in Buffalo in 1993
|
He had his debut in 2001 with the Phillies. With Arizona in 2002-03 and Padres in 2004. Currently out of baseball.
|
|
Citriculotores
|
|
Rey Ordoņez
|
Shortstop defected in 1993 in Buffalo
|
With Mets 1996-2002, Tampa Bay in 2003 and Cubs in 2004. Currently out of baseball.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
William Ortega
|
|
Outfielder signed $200,000 bonus in '97 - He had his debut in 2001 with the Cardinals. Currently out of baseball.
|
|
Havana Industriales
|
|
Brayan Peņa
|
May 1999 in Venezuela
|
Catcher signed $1.25 million bonus with Braves at age 18. Made ML debut in 2005. Currently with the Atlanta Braves.
|
|
Cuban Junior National Team
|
|
Ariel Prieto
|
Came to US in 1994 on a visa
|
$1.2 million signing bonus in 1995 with A's. With A's 1995-2000 and with Tampa Bay in 2001. Spent time in the Pirates and Tigers organizations. Last with Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Marlins).
|
|
Isla de la Juventud
|
|
Alex Sanchez
|
|
Drafted by Tampa bay in 1996. With the Brewers in 2001-03, Tigers 2003-04, and Tampa Bay and San Francisco in 2005. Currently with the Louisville Bats (AAA Reds).
|
|
|
|
Alay (Alain) Soler
|
December 2003
|
Signed with Mets. Currently piching for the Mets.
|
|
|
|
Michael Tejera
|
Defected at Miami Int'l Airport in 1993
|
Drafted by Marlins in 1995. With the Marlins 1999-2004 and with Texas 2004-05. Currently with the Frezno Grizzlies (AAA Giants).
|
|
Cuban Junior National Team
|
|
Jorge Luis Toca
|
Smuggled out of Cuba in August 1998
|
Oufielder signed $1.4 million with bonus in 1998 - With Mets in 1999-2001. Currently out of baseball.
|
|
Villa Clara
|
