MLB News: Roughly 75 Cuban Baseball Players Look to Join Major League Baseball Including Hector Olivera, Andy Ibanez & Yadier Alvarez
What an offseason it has been for international baseball players.
Outside of the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama and Puerto Rico, the small Latin American island nation of Cuba has been making news for their high profiles young athletes, specifically baseball players.
One of the biggest names in free agency this entire offseason has been Yoan Moncada. The 19-year-old Cuban-born infielder recently signed with the Boston Red Sox after he was granted full citizenship within the United States. The Red Sox also made huge news when they added Latin American-born players Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez to their roster this offseason.
According to "Cuba Headlines," there are an estimated 75 Cuban baseball players who are seeking a contract in Major League Baseball in the near future. With Moncada already off the board--who the Red Sox will invest more than $60 million in)--the most notable Cuban players still unsigned are Hector Olivera, Andy Ibanez and Yadier Alvarez.
Olivera has been sought by numerous teams around the league such as the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and even the San Diego Padres. But, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the front-runners to land him. Olivera is a fantastic power hitter, but he is 29 years old, and he has yet to be cleared by MLB as a free agent.
Andy Ibanez and Yadier Alvarez are two underrated Cuban players who should get a major League contract eventually. Ibanez left Cuba in 2014 to pursue a baseball career and has been watched by the Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants. Ibanez is a small contact hitter who draws comparisons to Dustin Pedroia. The best thing about Ibanez is his outstanding defensive skills.
Alvarez is an 18-year-old pitcher who defected from Cuba, as well. He has been impressing scouts in the Dominican Republic very much with his high speed fastball, slider and tricky changeup.
Major League Baseball has by far the largest Latino population among the four major sports, nearly 30 percent. That amount is far higher than the National Hockey League, National Football League and National Basketball Association. MLB also has the most foreign born players in their league among the four major sports, thus attracting fans from around the world, especially Latin America and Asia.
The United States and Cuba have been moving forward politically in a very progressive manner lately. According to the Wall Street Journal, Cuba and the United States will "meet for a second round of diplomatic talks on Friday." For the first time in a long time, it appears as if the two countries are finally heading in the right direction politically. It looks like baseball could be one of the leading causes to the possible end of communism in Cuba.
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