Since 2013, 34 Cuban baseball players have played in and made their debut in NPB, but only 15 have done so under the representation of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB). The other 19 have come via independent agents and not under the mandate of the communist island’s baseball governing body.
Before 2013 and since 1961, when professional baseball was outlawed on the island by the ex-dictator Fidel Castro, causing Cubans to have defect in order to play on the professional stage. Roberto “Chico” Barbón became the first Cuban and Latino to debut on the Nippon circuit, when debuted with the Hankyu Braves in 1955.
Since the return of the FCB to professional competition players like Liván Moinelo (SoftBank Hawks), who won the league MVP this year and was the Reliever of the Year in 2020 have made a great impact in the NPB. Alfredo Despaigne (SoftBank, Chiba Lotte Marines), also from the Cuban Federation is the all-time leader in homeruns by a Cuban in Japan with 184 and also led the league in roundtrippers in 2017. Raidel Martínez (Chunichi Dragons/Yomiuri Giants) has also saved over 200 games during his time in the Nippon League.
Of the non-FCB players since 2013 Dayán Viciedo has been the catalyst by smacking over a thousand hits, 141 longballs and even winning a batting title in 2018. Alexander Guerrero also made an impact with the lumber in the land of the rising sun during his career by leading the Pacific League in homeruns in 2017 which in turn earned him a spot in the circuits All-Star Game. On the mound left-hander Raúl Valdés by winning 17 games over three seasons and earning an All-Star selection in 2017.
Though divided by political differences and a totalitarian regime, Cubans have been making a big impact in the Nippon Professional Baseball League over the past decade and with the continued presence of Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez, Dayán Viciedo in the league and the recent signings of prospects like Jonathan Moreno don’t expect the presence of the Caribbean islanders to dissipate any time soon.
Players signed via the FCB:
-Frederich Cepeda (Yomiuri Giants)
-Yuli Gurriel (Yokohama DeNA BayStars)
-Alfredo Despaigne (Lotte Marines / SoftBank Hawks)
-Héctor Mendoza (Yomiuri Giants)
-José Adolis García (Yomiuri Giants)
-Raidel Martínez (Chunichi Dragons/Yomiuri Giants)
-Liván Moinelo (SoftBank Hawks)
-Roel Santos (Lotte Marines) -Oscar Luis Colás (SoftBank Hawks)
-Yurisbel Gracial (SoftBank Hawks)
-Ariel Martínez (Chunichi Dragons / Nippon-Ham Fighters)
-Yariel Rodríguez (Chunichi Dragons)
-Guillermo García (Chunichi Dragons)
-Pedro Pablo Revilla (Chunichi Dragons)
-Christian Rodríguez (Chunichi Dragons)
Signed as independent players:
-Michel Abreu (Nippon Ham Fighters)
– Bárbaro Cañizares (SoftBank Hawks)
– Juan Miguel Miranda (Nippon Ham Fighters)
– Leslie Anderson (Yomiuri Giants)
– Yuniesky Betancourt (Orix Buffaloes)
– Yoslan Herrera (Lotte Marines)
– Raúl Valdés (Chunichi Dragons)
– Félix Pérez (Rakuten Eagles)
– Dayán Viciedo (Chunichi Dragons/DeNA BayStars)
– Yadir Drake (Nippon Ham Fighters)
– Alexander Guerrero (Chunichi Dragons/Yomiuri Giants)
– Ariel Miranda (SoftBank Hawks)
– Onelki García (Hanshin Tigers)
– Leonys Martín (Lotte Marines)
– Adeiny Hechavarría (Lotte Marines)
– Rusney Castillo (Rakuten Eagles)
– Dariel Álvarez (SoftBank Hawks)
– Yoan López (Yomiuri Giants)
– Rangel Ravelo (Orix Buffaloes)