Reuters is reporting that two Cuban prospects have defected during a
junior baseball tournament in Edmonton. The players are shortstop Jose Antonio Iglesias and pitcher Noel Argueilles.
Both players are eighteen-years old and should pull in seven figures in signing bonuses if they're able to avoid the
MLB amateur draft and sign as free agents.
An
unnamed third player was reported missing as well. One of my contacts has said this unnamed player is pitcher
Raidel Sanchez, who, like Argueilles and Iglesias, is eighteen years old and hails from the Habana Province.
Sanchez apparently has a great curveball and is one of the most talented young players in
the league. Lefty Noel Arguielles throws gas in the mid-90s. Iglesias was hitting over .500 in the tournament. All
are stud prospects and their defections--combined with the defection of Dayan Viciedo in May--really hinder the future of the Cuban
National Team.
The entire situation has Fidel Castro foaming at the mouth. I'll just let him rant: Edmonton has become a
dumping ground. The Cuban athletes were badly taken care of. That city has the privilege of hosting that
championship every year. We should analyze whether it is worth attending that tournament....Japan and the United
States are big countries. They do not have to deal with an economic blockade. Both countries have great resources.
No one steals or plunders their athletes....
Monday, August 4, 2008
Third Missing Cuban Named in Three-Player Defection?
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