English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Andy Pagés, Andy Ibáñez, Yoan Moncada, and Daysbel Hernández could not play for Cuba in the World Classic. 14ymedio, Havana, May 7, 2025 — Andy Pagés’ dream of playing for Cuba seems doomed. After the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) limited the participation of Cubans hired by the Major Leagues in teams that … Continue reading “The US Requirement for Cuban Players Would Affect the Formation of Team Asere”
14ymedio, Havana, 28 December 2023 — Rarely has the regime licked its wounds with as much vigor as after the defeat of Team Asere in the semifinal of the World Baseball Classic. The propaganda had turned the match against the U.S. national team into a political crusade, and, as most sports specialists had predicted, the … Continue reading “Team Asere, Without a Homeland But With Love”
14ymedio, Rolando Gallardo, Quito, 16 March 2023 — I once heard an influencer, whose name I don’t want to remember, say that the “Cuban opposition was facing a scientific regime using improvisation.” This idea may have arisen creatively and spontaneously or come from the argument of Gene Sharp [an American political scientist]: “The idea that … Continue reading “Team Asere Does Not Belong to the Dictatorship, It Belongs to the Cuban People”
Players who “deserted or breached contracts” will not reinforce the island, according to ‘Swing Completo’ 14ymedio/Swing Completo, Havana, 10 March 2025 — Baseball player Aroldis Chapman, known as the Cuban Missile, rejected the Cuban Baseball Federation’s (FCB) plan to reinforce with exiles the national team that will participate in the VI World Baseball Classic. The … Continue reading ““I Was a Traitor and Now They Want Us To Go Play,” Aroldis Chapman Refuses To Join the Cuban Team”
Julio Robaina, Omar Estévez, Narbe Cruz and Erisbel Arruebarrena were among the 11 participants who emigrated The Cuban representation in the Little League World Series was left out of the competition 14ymedio/Swing Completo, Havana, 21 August 2024 — Of the 11 exiled players who had agreed to play for the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) in … Continue reading “Four Major League Players Resign From the Official Cuban Team”
14ymedio, Havana, 20 March 20, 2023 — It was with long faces and forced smiles, that the return home of the members of the Cuban baseball team that lost this Sunday in Miami to the US team by 14-2 was “celebrated.” And not only did Team Asere suffer the defeat, but its catcher, Iván Prieto, … Continue reading “The Regime Tries To Ease the Sports and Political Defeat of the Cuban Team With an Act of Reparation”
The Boston Red Sox pitcher reached 1,364 strikeouts over 17 years in the Major Leagues. 14ymedio, Havana, July 5, 2026 – Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman has become the all-time strikeout leader among relief pitchers in Major League Baseball. Last Friday, the Boston Red Sox reliever recorded his 1,364th strikeout, surpassing a record that had stood … Continue reading “Aroldis Chapman Breaks 54-Year Record, Becomes MLB’s All-Time Strikeout Leader Among Relievers”
Last year, in the same tournament, two players from Las Tunas defected 14ymedio, Havana, March 31, 2026 – Esteban Terry has become the latest case of an athlete who leaves a Cuban delegation abroad. As reported this Tuesday by Cuba Grand Slam, “the Matanzas outfielder did not return to Cuba with the Cocodrilos team that … Continue reading “Cuban Baseball Player Esteban Terry Leaves the Cocodrilos De Matanzas and Stays in Mexico”
Canada defeats Team Asere 7–2 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. 14ymedio, Havana, March 12, 2026 – The squad managed by Germán Mesa had a “disastrous finish” on the field of Hiram Bithorn Stadium, acknowledged the pro-government media Jit. Cuba’s 2–7 loss to Canada hurt. The game not only exposed the weaknesses of Team Asere but also … Continue reading “Cuba Has a “Disastrous Finish” in the World Baseball Classic and for the First Time Fails To Pass the First Round”
The Island’s team barely managed two hits, its worst offensive performance in the entire tournament. 14ymedio, Havana, March 10, 2026 – Cuba’s national team was exposed this Monday by Puerto Rico in its third game of the World Baseball Classic, losing 4–1. The defeat at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan puts Team Asere’s qualification … Continue reading “Cuba Loses to Puerto Rico and Puts Its Qualification for the Final Round of the World Baseball Classic in Doubt”
On March 6, the Island will make its debut in the World Baseball Classic against Panama. 14ymedio, Havana, February 15, 2026 – Cuba barely managed to secure third place in a second-tier tournament. On Friday night, Team Asere defeated Panama’s Las Águilas Metropolitanas 7–2 to claim the bronze medal in the second edition of the … Continue reading “Cuba Wins Bronze in the Serie de las Américas, a Second-Tier Baseball Tournament”
The Toronto Blue Jays told Sánchez he must start in Triple-A, with Buffalo 14ymedio, Havana, January 15, 2026 — Ballplayer Rafael Sánchez will not be with Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. The Toronto Blue Jays, who signed him in 2023 for $350,000, suggested that he focus on having a strong spring training for the … Continue reading “Sánchez Joins Pagés and Estrada in Declining to Play for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic”
If good results have been scarce during the 53-year-old official’s tenure, promises have been plentiful 14ymedio, Havana, December 29, 2025 — With a bit of luck and by chance, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo found himself twice within the organizational structure of Cuban state sports. The man whose leadership of led Cuban baseball to its worst … Continue reading “Cuban Faces 2025: Juan Reinaldo Pérez, the Man Who Deepened the Crisis in Cuban Baseball”
Manager Germán Mesa’s call includes Andy Pagés, Yoán Moncada and Zach Neto, while the case of Yariel Rodríguez is still not defined 14ymedio, Havana, December 4, 2025 — Finally, and after weeks of uncertainty, Cuba will participate in the World Baseball Classic. According to Cuban Baseball Digest, the Island’s national team “has the necessary permits … Continue reading “Cuba Will Go to the World Baseball Classic and Has Now Handed Over a Preliminary Roster of 50 Players”
The absence of baseball players is generating controversy among specialists in the discipline. 14ymedio, Havana, 3 November 2025 — The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation excluded from the national team players from the two-time champion Las Tunas club for the upcoming Copa América. The selection, which determined the 27-player roster for the competition to be … Continue reading “Without Major League Baseball Players or Players From the Champion Las Tunas, This Is How Cuba Is Going to the Copa América”