Alexei Ramirez, Yoenis Céspedes, and Jose Abreu will always be etched in Cuban baseball history not only for their performance on the field, but they are also the only three Cuban MLB players to defect and reach the bigs without having to go through the minors.
This is something that is very noteworthy considering the amount of talent that has left the island in the last 10 years since the flood gates for defections opened up following the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
The three MLB players coincidentally shared the field at the 2014 all-star game in Minnesota.
Today’s White Sox highlight is Alexei Ramirez’s grand slam in game 162 of the 2008 season, which helped the Sox advance to the Blackout Game.pic.twitter.com/4IuzhzhHQu
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) February 9, 2022
Alexei Ramírez (The Cuban Missle)
Ramirez was one of the first players to leave Cuba following the ‘06 WBC, but he left via a marriage visa to the Dominican Republic, but once there he decided to apply for MLB free agency.
On December 21, 2007, he signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Whitesox. In 2008 the native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba made the Southsiders opening day roster by winning a job straight out of Spring Training.
The infielder was a hit with the ball club that season collecting his first hit on April 2nd of that year and he smashed his first home run off Giants reliever Billy Sadler on May 16th. He set a major league rookie record with four grand slams that season and hit .290 with 21 dingers and 77 runs knocked in. He was the eventual runner up for the AL rookie of the year that season.
In his career, Ramirez was a two-time silver slugger winner, one-time all-star, and hit .270 during his time on the grand stage. He also had over a thousand hits and 100 round-trippers.
at this time, Yoenis Cespedes was a BAAAAAAAAD MAN. @AndThatsBB pic.twitter.com/UsaHinsBj5
— J&Tsportsbetting (@JTsportsbetting) August 5, 2023
Yoenis Céspedes (La Potencia)
Yoenis Céspedes is known to fans on the island as “The Potency” (La Potencia), because of his potential for making the explosive play at any time and from anywhere on the field.
This five-tool outfielder announced himself to the world in the 2009 World Baseball Classic when he slashed .458/.480/1.000 belted three triples, two homers, and drove in five runs.
The native of Campechuela, Cuba defected in 2011 from the island and established residency in 2012 in the Dominican Republic. He eventually signed a 4 year 36 million dollar contract with the Oakland A’s. The outfielder made his major league debut March 28 of 2012 and went 1-3 in the season-opening Japan Series against the Mariners. The following day he hit his first homer in the pro’s, a two-run bomb off Shawn Kelley.
In his career, he as hit 165 bombs and knocked in 528, while winning a gold glove and a silver slugger. At 37 years of age, the slugger’s career is effectively over. Last winter he hit .188 with four longballs and 11 runs batted in in 18 games with the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican League. The outfielder also played with Cuba in the WBC and was very underwhelming at the plate.
THREE homers tonight for José Abreu. 😤 pic.twitter.com/zWKByrlPhQ
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2020
Jose Abreu (Pito)
Abreu gained notoriety in 2013 WBC where he hit .383, went yard three times, and drove in nine as the first baseman for the Cuban team. Later that year the slugger decided to defect from the island and try his hand in professional baseball. He established residency in August of 2013 and signed a 6 year 68 million dollar contract with the Whitesox in September.
Abreu made the team out of Spring Training and on March 31, 2014, he collected his first MLB hit against Minnesota. On April 8th of that year, he hit his first two home runs in the majors at Colorado.
In his first season was a hit the first baseman was selected to the all-star team and destroyed MLB pitching to the tune of .317 batting average that was accompanied by 36 long balls and 107 runs knocked in.
He would eventually be named AL rookie of the year that season. He also won the silver slugger that season. During his time in “the windy city,” he has hit .292, gone yard 243 times, and driven in 863. He has also been named an all-star three times, won two silver sluggers, and led the AL in runs batted in (2019).
Abreu was also name Rookie of the year in 2014 and the AL MVP in 2020. This offseason he signed the Houston Astros and is his first season with the defending World Champions is hitting .234 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs.