Monday, August 4, 2008

Third Missing Cuban Named in Three-Player Defection?

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....

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