Gladys Alonso has made a significant impact in the sports representation industry as the first female Cuban-American sports agent. Her company, A&F Sports, excels in the international baseball field, representing a diverse array of athletes across MLB, Asia, and South America. Alonso’s expertise in navigating the complexities of athlete representation has resulted in numerous deals for her clients.
With ten years of experience, Alonso has established herself as a powerhouse in sports representation. Born in Hialeah, Florida, and deeply rooted in her Cuban heritage, she takes pride in supporting Cuban players and Miami’s exile community. Regarding her journey and expansion into the international market, Alonso explained, “I’ve been certified for 10 years and started working in the Dominican Republic, signing players internationally.”
A&F Sports includes notable clients such as Luis Castillo and Michael Felix in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, as well as Cristhian Adames, Luis Aviles Jr., and Art Charles in the Mexican League. “Right now, I have Luis Castillo and Michael Felix in Japan. Jerar Encarnación, who was in Mexico, is now in San Francisco’s Triple-A, hitting home runs again. I also have Art Charles, who is the leader in home runs in Mexico,” she elaborated, showcasing her diverse and successful roster of clients.
Alonso’s journey is a testament to her perseverance and passion in breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry. Her dedication is evident in stories like that of Andy Martin, whom she met in March. ‘The kid has tremendous talent, an amazing physique, and skills, but he hadn’t been signed due to various circumstances. When I saw him, I knew we had to do something. We took him to Japan and put him in the independent league with the Ibaraki Astro Planets. They gave him the opportunity to shine, and he did,’ she recounted, illustrating her commitment to her clients’ success.
Looking forward, Alonso remains optimistic about the future. “We have a lot of things coming. We’re waiting for Encarnación to be called up to the big leagues any moment. We’re working on getting Art Charles to Japan or MLB, and possibly Steven Moya to Japan next year. There’s a lot happening day by day. In this business, you never know what’s going to happen, but with God’s guidance, things work out perfectly,” she reflected.
Her advice to aspiring female sports agents is straightforward: “What helped me in my career was not listing myself as a woman but treating it as a job and a challenge. I didn’t want to stand out as the female; I wanted to blend in. This approach helped her integrate seamlessly into a male-dominated industry. By not emphasizing gender, but rather focusing on skills and dedication, female agents can gain acceptance more readily and thrive in their careers.
Alonso’s practical approach and dedication have established her as a respected figure in sports representation, paving the way for future generations.
You are the first female Cuban-American MLB certified agent. Could you please elaborate on that for us? How did you get to that point?
I’ve been certified for 10 years. I picked up my MLB certification and started working in the Dominican Republic, signing players internationally. I signed players in Taiwan and Japan, and I’ve expanded into the entire international market.
Can you elaborate on some of your better known clients at A&F Sports?
Right now, I have Luis Castillo and Michael Felix in Japan; they are pitchers. Jerar Encarnación, who was in Mexico, is now in San Francisco’s Triple-A, hitting home runs again. I also have Art Charles, who is the leader in home runs in Mexico. Steven Moya is leading in home runs in Taiwan. My players are doing amazing. I have Christian Adames, who is doing fabulous, and Jimmy Yacabonis. I also have Andy Martin, Leonys’ little brother. All my players are doing phenomenal, which is the most important thing.
Let’s talk about the Andy Martin signing. He signed yesterday with Chiba. Tell us about the process from the independent league to the Japanese league.
I met Andy Martin in March. The kid has tremendous talent. His physique is amazing, his skills and he hadnt been signed. He had been drafted before but never signed. You know, just a lot of different circumstances that happened in his life, and he didn’t have anything at the moment. And when I saw him, and I saw his talent, I was like, you have to do something for the kid. He’s amazing. So we took him to Japan, we put him in the independent league, the Ibaraki Astro Planets, which honestly, they gave us opportunity to let him shine there, and he did. He went to the league and he’s great he was hitting home runs, adapted well to environment, culture, it was awesome. And yesterday we got him into Chiba Lotte Now. He’s going to be in the development program, working through the minor leagues to the big league.
Tell us about the future endeavors of A&F Sports. Are there any upcoming signings or plans for the winter league, Japanese league, or MLB?
We have a lot of things coming. We’re waiting for Encarnación to be called up to the big leagues any moment. We’re working on getting Art Charles to Japan and MLB, and Steven Moya maybe to Japan next year. There’s a lot happening day by day. In this business, you never know what’s going to happen, but God is on my side and, everything works out perfectly.
Do you have a message for aspiring female sports agents? Any words of advice?
What helped me in my career was not listing myself as a woman but treating it as a job and a challenge. I didn’t want to stand out as the female; I wanted to blend in. I was raised with two brothers and felt more comfortable with boys than girls. So, if you’re a female in this, just do your job like anyone else and let things fall into place. Don’t come in with the mentality of “I’m the female,” and you’ll be accepted more easily.