Gaby Sanchez - photo courtesy of mlb4all.com
With all of the hoopla surrounding the impending MLB signing of the Cuban defector, outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, one has to take a step back and ponder how many of these recent arrivals from the Cuban national team and country’s pro league have really panned out. It seems like for every Livan Hernandez, there have been ten Ariel Prietos. The simple fact is that, in the last 10 to 15 years, many of the Cubans who came from right off the island and into the big leagues have generally been ho-hum, at best.
What’s been slowly happening under the baseball public’s radar, however is the groundswell of Cuban-American talent coming out of Miami, mainly lead by the sons of immigrants who came over in the 80’s and 90’s. Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro, steroids allegations notwithstanding, were the previous generation’s successful indicators from the Miami exile community. Over the last 50 years, this player pool has grown up with both Cuban and U.S. baseball culture combined, and it has created an interesting mix of talent and discipline on the diamond.
Look no further than Gaby Sanchez of the Miami Marlins. He’s an easy target, because he was born and raised in Miami, went to University of Miami, and now plays for the hometown Marlins. It would have been great if the Marlins had signed Albert Pujols, but their consolation prize was keeping Sanchez, who has averaged 19 home runs and a .780 OPS in a pitcher friendly stadium the last two years, at first base. Not a bad situation to be in.
Yonder Alonso - photo courtesy of milb.com
And there are others. First baseman Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal of the San Diego Padres were both born in Havana, but raised in Miami and also went to The U. The only reason Alonso didn’t start for the Cincinnati Reds last season was because Joey Votto was in his way, and Grandal will figure to compete for Nick Hundley’s job behind the plate for the Padres.
Yasmani Grandal - courtesy of zimbio.com
None of these guys will have to go through the culture shock of suddenly becoming highly paid major league baseball players, unlike Cespedes, or Aroldis Chapman, or Yuniesky Maya have to do. South Florida is proving to be the perfect incubator of Latin-American baseball. With its good weather, huge populations of Latin baseball playing communities (Cuban, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, etc.), ample facilities and proximity to the source, there’s no wonder that more and more baseball talent is coming out of Miami. After all, A-Rod grew up here (also, steroids allegations notwithstanding), and even put his name on the University of Miami baseball stadium! There are legions of young Latino kids growing up in Miami now who aspire to make it to the Show, and generally have the resources and support to do it.
