Yoennis Céspedes Expands the List of Cuban Big Leaguers to 167 and Counting
HAVANA TIMES, April 7 — Oakland A’s rookie slugger Yoennis Céspedes has already surrendered his share of the Cuban League single-season home run record. But apparently not looking back, Céspedes has been busy enough making his own loud splash at the big league level during Major League Baseball’s opening week.
After debuting with a ringing homer in his inaugural Arizona spring training contest (March 10), the former Granma slugger logged base hits during both ends of his pair of official opening weekend American League outings (March 28-29). Those two late-March games were staged in Asia as part of a brief MLB lid-lifter series at Japan’s Tokyo Dome.
Then in his initial big league game on North American soil Céspedes kept up his torrid pace with a true tape measure home run shot (calculated at more than 460 feet) on April 6 in the Oakland Coliseum. Ironically the most recent Céspedes long ball came in the same stadium and on the same date as an earlier historic round-tripper by another pioneering Cuban big leaguer. Minnesota’s Tony Oliva had launched the first-ever homer by a DH in the same arena back on April 6, 1973.
Céspedes’ Cuban League mark (set last year) went by the wayside earlier this week in Havana when former Granma teammate Alfredo Despaigne upped the standard from 33 to 35 with more than two weeks still left to play in the current Cuban National Series campaign. Meanwhile Céspedes is already proving that he is a legitimate big leaguer bent on earning his hefty 4-year $36 million contract inked with the Oakland club. It is obviously far too early to begin anointing the Cuban ex-patriot as a surefire bet for American League rookie of the year honors—a prediction recently proclaimed on the Oakland A’s official team web site but also something that no Cuban has accomplished since the aforementioned Tony Oliva back in 1964.
Despite his several early power displays Céspedes hit only .229 over 11 games and 35 at-bats during his spring training trial. If some of the hype might be premature, there already appears to be sufficient evidence of the Cuban’s potential as one of the brighter offensive stars among the handful of Cuban Leaguers who have fled to the big leagues over the past decade. Nonetheless only a remarkable rookie campaign will surpass the 2009 season numbers posted by fellow countryman Kendry Morales for the Los Angeles Angels (34 HR, 108 RBI, .306 BA). Although Morales was already in his fourth big league season by the time he enjoyed his breakout year, he was only 26 at the time. Céspedes himself turned 26 last October.
As the only Cuban rookie on any big league roster for the season’s opening week, Yoennis Céspedes has now pushed the list of Cuban-born major leaguers to 167 and counting. The last islander to debut was Texas Rangers outfielder Leonys Martin, a late-season call-up last fall by the American League champions. Martin will begin the current campaign playing for the Texas AAA affiliate in Round Rock.
The other nine Cubans on this season’s opening day rosters include the following: Yonder Alonso (San Diego Padres), Alexei Ramírez and Dayan Viciedo (Chicago White Sox), Kendry Morales (Los Angeles Angeles), José Contreras (Philadelphia Phillies), Yunieski Betancourt and Branyan Peña (Kansas City Royals), and Aroldis Chapman (Cincinnati Reds). Of this group, all but Alonso and Peña made at least brief Cuban League appearances.
Céspedes is now the thirty-first ex-Cuban Leaguer (“defector”) to reach the majors, but of that number only a handful have enjoyed much big league success (Danys Báez, Orlando Hernández, Liván Hernández, Contreras, Ramírez, Morales, Betancourt, Escobar, and Rolando Arrojo topping the list). Céspedes already appears a strong bet to enter into that fraternity.
Cuban Major Leaguers List (167 Cuban Major Leaguers)
| Cuban Ballplayers | Debut Dates | Positions | Debut Teams | Debut Leagues | Seasons (Games) |
| Pre-Twentieth Century | 1800s | ||||
| Enrique Esteban Bellán (1) | 1871 (5/9/1871) | Infield | Troy Haymakers | National Association | 3 (60) |
| Pre-Revolution Period | 1911-1960 | ||||
| Armando Marsans (2) | 1911 (7/4/1911) | Outfield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 8 (655) |
| Rafael Almeida (3) | 1911 (7/4/1911) | Outfield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 3 (102) |
| Miguel (Mike) González (4) | 1912 (9/28/1912) | Catcher | Boston Braves | National League | 19 (1042) |
| Merito (Baldomero) Acosta (5) | 1913 (6/15/1913) | Outfield | Washington Senators | National League | 5 (180) |
| Jacinto (Jack) Calvo (6) | 1913 (9/5/1913) | Outfield | Washington Senators | American League | 2 (34) |
| Angel (Pete) Aragón (7) | 1914 (8/20/1914) | Infield | New York Yankees | American League | 3 (32) |
| Adolfo (Dolf) Luque (8) | 1914 (5/20/1914) | RHP | Boston Braves | National League | 20 (550) |
| Manolo (Manuel) Cueto (9) | 1914 (6/25/1914) | Outfield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 3 (151) |
| Emilio (Pal) Palmero (10) | 1915 (9/21/1915) | RHP | New York Giants | National League | 4 (41) |
| Joseito Rodríguez (11) | 1916 (10/5/1916) | Infield | New York Giants | National League | 5 (58) |
| Oscar Tuero (12) | 1918 (5/30/1918) | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | National League | 3 (58) |
| Eusebio González (13) | 1918 (7/26/1918) | SS | Boston Red Sox | American League | 1 (3) |
| Ricardo Torres (14) | 1920 (5/18/1920) | Catcher | Washington Senators | American League | 3 (22) |
| José Acosta (15) | 1920 (7/28/1920) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 3 (55) |
| Pedro Dibut (16) | 1924 (5/1/1924) | RHP | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 2 (8) |
| Ramón (Mike) Herrera (17) | 1925 (9/22/1925) | Infield | Boston Red Sox | American League | 2 (84) |
| Oscar Estrada (18) | 1929 (4/21/1929) | LHP | St. Louis Browns | American League | 1 (1) |
| Roberto (Tarzan) Estalella (19) | 1935 (9/7/1935) | Outfield | Washington Senators | American League | 8 (680) |
| Fermín (Mike) Guerra (20) | 1937 (9/19/1937) | Catcher | Washington Senators | American League | 9 (565) |
| René Monteagudo (21) | 1938 (9/6/1938) | LHP | Washington Senators | American League | 3 (46) |
| Gilberto Torres (22) | 1940 (4/25/1940) | Infield | Washington Senators | American League | 4 (44) |
| Jack (Angel) Aragón (23) | 1941 (8/13/1941) | Pinch Runner | New York Giants | National League | 1 (1) |
| Roberto (Bobby) Ortíz (24) | 1941 (9/6/1941) | Outfield | Washington Senators | American League | 6 (213) |
| Chico (Sal) Hernández (25) | 1942 (4/16/1942) | Catcher | Chicago Cubs | National League | 2 (90) |
| Napoleón (Nap) Reyes (26) | 1943 (5/19/1943) | Infield | New York Giants | National League | 4 (279) |
| Mosquito Ordeñana (27) | 1943 (10/3/1943) | SS | Pittsburgh Pirates | National League | 1 (1) |
| Tomás (Tommy) de la Cruz (28) | 1944 (4/20/1944) | RHP | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 1 (34) |
| Santiago (Carlos) Ullrich (29) | 1944 (5/3/1944) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 2 (31) |
| Rogelio (Roy) Valdés (30) | 1944 (5/3/1944) | Pinch Hitter | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (1) |
| Preston (Pedro) Gómez (31) | 1944 (5/5/1944) | Infield | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (8) |
| Luis Suarez (32) | 1944 (5/28/1944) | Third Base | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (1) |
| Baby (Oliverio) Ortíz (33) | 1944 (9/23/1944) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (2) |
| José Zardón (34) | 1945 (4/18/1945) | Outfield | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (54) |
| Jorge Comellas (35) | 1945 (4/19/1945) | RHP | Chicago Cubs | National League | 1 (7) |
| Armando Roche (36) | 1945 (5/10/1945) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (2) |
| Isidoro (Sid) Léon (37) | 1945 (6/21/1945) | RHP | Philadelphia Phillies | National League | 1 (14) |
| Adrian Zabala (38) | 1945 (8/11/1945) | LHP | New York Giants | National League | 2 (26) |
| Regino (Reggie) Otero (39) | 1945 (9/2/1945) | First Base | Chicago Cubs | National League | 1 (14) |
| Moín (Ramón) García (40) | 1948 (4/19/1948) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (4) |
| Angel Fleitas (41) | 1948 (7/5/1948) | SS | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (15) |
| Julio (Enríque) González (42) | 1949 (8/9/1949) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (13) |
| Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso (43) | 1949 (4/9/1949) | Outfield | Cleveland Indians | American League | 17 (1835) |
| Luis (Witto) Aloma (44) | 1950 (4/19/1950) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 4 (116) |
| Conrado (Connie) Marrero (45) | 1950 (4/21/1950) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 5 (118) |
| Sandalio (Sandy) Consuegra (46) | 1950 (2/2/1950) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 8 (248) |
| Rogelio (Limonar) Martínez (47) | 1950 (2/2/1950) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (2) |
| Julio (Jiqui) Moreno (48) | 1950 (2/2/1950) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 4 (73) |
| Carlos Pascual (49) | 1950 (2/2/1950) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (2) |
| Rafael (Ray) Noble (50) | 1951 (2/2/1951) | Catcher | New York Giants | National League | 3 (107) |
| Willy (Guillermo) Miranda (51) | 1951 (5/6/1951) | SS | Washington Senators | American League | 9 (824) |
| Francisco (Cisco) Campos (52) | 1951 (9/11/1951) | Outfield | Washington Senators | American League | 3 (71) |
| Héctor Rodríguez (53) | 1952 (4/15/1952) | Third Base | Chicago White Sox | American League | 1 (124) |
| Raúl Sánchez (54) | 1952 (4/17/1952) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 3 (49) |
| Edmundo (Sandy) Amorós (55) | 1952 (8/22/1952) | Outfield | Brooklyn Dodgers | National League | 7 (517) |
| Miguel (Mike) Fornieles (56) | 1952 (9/2/1952) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 12 (432) |
| Camilo Pascual (57) | 1954 (4/15/1954) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 18 (529) |
| Carlos Paula (58) | 1954 (9/6/1954) | Outfield | Washington Senators | American League | 3 (157) |
| Pedro (Pete) Ramos (59) | 1955 (4/11/1955) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 15 (582) |
| Roman Mejías (60) | 1955 (4/13/1955) | Outfield | Pittsburgh Pirates | National League | 9 (627) |
| Vince (Wenceslao) González (61) | 1955 (4/13/1955) | LHP | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (2) |
| Juan Delís (62) | 1955 (4/16/1955) | Third Base | Washington Senators | American League | 1 (54) |
| Vicente Amor (63) | 1955 (4/16/1955) | RHP | Chicago Cubs | National League | 2 (13) |
| Lino Dinoso (64) | 1955 (6/18/1955) | LHP | Pittsburgh Pirates | National League | 2 (28) |
| José (Joe) Valdivielso (65) | 1955 (6/21/1955) | SS | Washington Senators | American League | 5 (401) |
| Julio Bécquer (66) | 1955 (9/13/1955) | First Base | Washington Senators | American League | 7 (488) |
| Lázaro (Cholly) Naranjo (67) | 1956 (7/8/1956) | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates | National League | 1 (17) |
| Chico (Humberto) Fernández (68) | 1956 (7/14/1956) | SS | Brooklyn Dodgers | National League | 8 (856) |
| Evelio Hernández (69) | 1956 (9/12/1956) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 2 (18) |
| René Valdez (70) | 1957 (4/21/1957) | RHP | Brooklyn Dodgers | National League | 1 (5) |
| Tony (Antonio) Taylor (71) | 1958 (4/15/1958) | Infield | Chicago Cubs | National League | 19 (2195) |
| Panchón (Juan) Herrera (72) | 1958 (4/15/1958) | First Base | Philadelphia Phillies | National League | 3 (300) |
| Fernando (Freddie) Rodríguez (73) | 1958 (4/18/1958) | RHP | Chicago Cubs | National League | 2 (8) |
| Osvaldo (Ossie) Alvarez (74) | 1958 (4/19/1958) | Infield | Washington Senators | American League | 2 (95) |
| Daniel (Dan) Morejón (75) | 1958 (7/11/1958) | Outfield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 1 (12) |
| Orlando Peña (76) | 1958 (8/24/1958) | RHP | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 18 (427) |
| Rodolfo (Rudy) Arias (77) | 1959 (4/10/1959) | LHP | Chicago White Sox | American League | 1 (34) |
| Miguel (Mike) Cuéllar (78) | 1959 (4/18/1959) | LHP | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 15 (453) |
| Zoilo (Zorro) Versalles (79) | 1959 (8/1/1959) | SS | Washington Senators | American League | 13 (1400) |
| Tony (Antonio) González (80) | 1960 (4/12/1960) | Infield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 12 (1559) |
| Eduardo (Ed) Bauta (81) | 1960 (7/6/1960) | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | National League | 5 (97) |
| Miguel (Mike) de la Hoz (82) | 1960 (7/22/1960) | Infield | Cleveland Indians | American League | 9 (494) |
| Leo (Leonardo) Cárdenas (83) | 1960 (7/25/1960) | Infield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 16 (1941) |
| Joe (Joaquin) Azcue (84) | 1960 (8/3/1960) | Infield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 11 (909) |
| Borrego (Rogelio) Alvarez (85) | 1960 (9/18/1960) | First Base | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 2 (17) |
| Leo (Leopoldo) Posada (86) | 1960 (9/21/1960) | Outfield | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 3 (155) |
| Héctor Maestri (87) | 1960 (9/24/1960) | RHP | Washington Senators | American League | 2 (2) |
| Post-Revolution Period | 1961-2011 | ||||
| Berto (Dagoberto) Cueto (88) | 1961 (6/18/1961) | RHP | Minnesota Twins | American League | 1 (7) |
| Manuel (Manny) Montejo (89) | 1961 (7/25/1961) | RHP | Detroit Tigers | American League | 1 (12) |
| Orlando McFarlane (90) | 1962 (4/3/1962) | Catcher | Pittsburgh Pirates | National League | 5 (124) |
| Octavio (Cookie) Rojas (91) | 1962 (4/10/1962) | Infield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 16 (1822) |
| José Tartabull (92) | 1962 (4/10/1962) | Outfield | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 9 (749) |
| Diego Seguí (93) | 1962 (4/12/1962) | RHP | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 16 (639) |
| Marty (Orlando) Martínez (94) | 1962 (5/2/1962) | Infield | Minnesota Twins | American League | 7 (436) |
| Héctor (Rodolfo) Martínez (95) | 1962 (9/3/1962) | Outfield | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 2 (7) |
| Tony (Pedro) Oliva (96) | 1962 (9/9/1962) | Outfield | Minnesota Twins | American League | 18 (2017) |
| Tony (Gabriel) Martínez (97) | 1963 (4/9/1963) | Infield | Cleveland Indians | American League | 4 (73) |
| José Cardenal (98) | 1963 (4/14/1963) | Infield | San Francisco Giants | National League | 18 (2017) |
| Marcelino López (99) | 1963 (4/14/1963) | LHP | Philadelphia Phillies | National League | 8 (171) |
| Aurelio Monteagudo (100) | 1963 (9/1/1963) | RHP | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 7 (72) |
| Chico (Hiraldo) Ruiz (101) | 1964 (4/13/1964) | Infield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 8 (565) |
| Luis Tiant Jr. (102) | 1964 (7/19/1964) | RHP | Cleveland Indians | American League | 19 (573) |
| Dagoberto Campaneris (103) | 1964 (7/23/1964) | Infield | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 20 (2328) |
| Tony (Atanasio) Pérez (104) | 1964 (7/26/ 1964) | Infield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 23 (2777) |
| Sandy (Hilario) Valdespino (105) | 1965 (4/12/1965) | Outfield | Minnesota Twins | American League | 7 (382) |
| Tito (Rigoberto) Fuentes (106) | 1965 (8/18/1965) | Outfield | San Francisco Giants | National League | 13 (1499) |
| Jackie (Jacinto) Hernández (107) | 1965 (9/14/1965) | SS | California Angels | American League | 9 (618) |
| Paul (Paulino) Casanova (108) | 1965 (9/18/1965) | Catcher | Washington Senators | American League | 10 (859) |
| Minnie (Minervino) Rojas (109) | 1966 (5/30/1966) | RHP | California Angels | American League | 3 (157) |
| José Ramón López (110) | 1966 (8/21/1966) | RHP | California Angels | American League | 1 (4) |
| Hank (Enrique) Izquierdo (111) | 1967 (8/9i/1967) | Catcher | Minnesota Twins | American League | 1 (16) |
| George (Jorge) Lauzerique (112) | 1967 (9/17/1967) | RHP | Kansas City Athletics | American League | 4 (34) |
| José Arcia (113) | 1968 (4/10/1968) | Infield | Chicago Cubs | National League | 3 (293) |
| Chico (Lorenzo) Fernández (114) | 1968 (4/20/1968) | Infield | Baltimore Orioles | American League | 1 (24) |
| José Martínez (115) | 1969 (6/18/1969) | Infield | Pittsburgh Pirates | National League | 2 (96) |
| Minnie (Berto) Mendoza (116) | 1970 (4/9/1970) | Infield | Minnesota twins | American League | 1 (16) |
| Oscar Zamora (117) | 1974 (6/18/1974) | RHP | Chicago Cubs | National League | 4 (158) |
| Orlando González (118) | 1976 (6/7/1976) | First Base | Cleveland Indians | American League | 3 (79) |
| Bobby (Roberto) Ramos (119) | 1978 (9/26/1978) | Catcher | Montreal Expos | National League | 6 (103) |
| Leo (Leonardo) Sutherland (120) | 1980 (8/11/1980) | Outfield | Chicago White Sox | American League | 2 (45) |
| Bárbaro Garbéy (121) | 1984 (4/3/1984) | Outfield | Detroit Tigers | American League | 3 (226) |
| José Canseco (122) | 1985 (9/2/1985) | Outfield | Oakland Athletics | American League | 17 (1887) |
| Rafael Palmeiro (123) | 1986 (9/8/1986) | First Base | Chicago Cubs | National League | 20 (2831) |
| Orestes Destrade (124) | 1987 (9/11/1987) | First Base | New York Yankees | American League | 4 (237) |
| Nelson Santovenia (125) | 1987 (9/16/1987) | Catcher | Montreal Expos | National League | 7 (297) |
| Tony (Emilio) Fossas (126) | 1988 (5/15/1988) | LHP | Texas Rangers | American League | 12 (567) |
| Israel Sánchez (127) | 1988 (7/7/1988) | LHP | Kansas City Royals | American League | 2(30) |
| Ozzie Canseco (128) | 1990 (7/18/1990) | Outfield | Oakland Athletics | American League | 3 (24) |
| Tony Menéndez (129) | 1992 (6/22/1992) | RHP | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 3 (23) |
| René Arocha (130) | 1993 (4/9/1993) | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | National League | 5 (124) |
| Ariel Prieto(131) | 1995 (7/2/1995) | RHP | Oakland Athletics | American League | 5 (67) |
| Rey Ordóñez (132) | 1996 (4/1/1996) | SS | New York Mets | National League | 9 (973) |
| Osvaldo Fernández (133) | 1996 (4/5/1996) | RHP | San Francisco Giants | National League | 7 (76) |
| Eisler (Liván) Hernández (134) | 1996 (9/24/1996) | RHP | Florida Marlins | National League | 16 (475) |
| Elieser (Eli) Marrero (135) | 1997 (9/3/1997) | Catcher | St. Louis Cardinals | National League | 10 (724) |
| Rolando Arrojo (136) | 1998 (4/1/1998) | RHP | Tampa Bay Rays | American League | 5 (158) |
| Orlando (Duque) Hernández (137) | 1998 (6/3/1998) | RHP | New York Yankees | American League | 9 (219) |
| Vladimir Núñez (138) | 1998 (9/11/1998) | RHP | Arizona Diamondbacks | National League | 9 (254) |
| Michael Tejera (139) | 1999 (9/8/1999) | LHP | Florida Marlins | National League | 5 (111) |
| Jorge Toca (140) | 1999 (9/12/1999) | Infield | New York Mets | National League | 3 (25) |
| Adrian Hernández (141) | 2001 (4/21/2001) | RHP | New York Yankees | American League | 3 (14) |
| Danys Báez (142) | 2001 (5/13/2001) | RHP | Cleveland Indians | American League | 10 (533) |
| Edilberto (Eddie) Oropeza (143) | 2001 (4/2/2001) | LHP | Philadelphia Phillies | National League | 4 (125) |
| Alex Sánchez (144) | 2001 (6/15/2001) | Outfield | Milwaukee Brewers | National League | 5 (427) |
| Bill Ortega (145) | 2001 (9/7/2001) | Outfield | St. Louis Cardinals | National League | 1 (5) |
| Hanzel Izquierdo (146) | 2002 (4/21/2002) | RHP | Florida Marlins | National League | 1 (20) |
| Juan Díaz(147) | 2002 (6/12/2002) | First Base | Boston Red Sox | National League | 1 (4) |
| José Ariel Contreras (148) | 2003 (3/31/2003) | RHP | New York Yankees | American League | 10 (275) |
| Michel Hernández (149) | 2003 (9/6/2003) | Catcher | New York Yankees | American League | 3 (45) |
| Branyan Peña (150) | 2005 (5/23/2005) | Catcher | Atlanta Braves | National League | 8 (268) |
| Yuniesky Betancourt (151) | 2005 (7/8/2005) | SS | Seattle Mariners | American League | 8 (963) |
| Kendry Morales (152) | 2006 (5/23/2006) | First Base | Anaheim Angels | American League | 6 (331) |
| Yunel Escobar (153) | 2007 (6/2/2007) | SS | Atlanta Braves | National League | 6 (640) |
| Alexei Ramírez (154) | 2008 (3/31/2008) | Infield | Chicago White Sox | American League | 5 (599) |
| Alberto Castillo (155) | 2008 (4/28/2008) | LHP | Baltimore Orioles | American League | 4 (74) |
| Francisley Bueno (156) | 2008 (8/13/2008) | RHP | Atlanta Braves | National League | 1 (1) |
| Juan Miranda (157) | 2008 (9/18/2008) | First Base | New York Yankees | American League | 4 (111) |
| Bárbaro Cañizares (158) | 2009 (6/11/2009) | Infield | Atlanta Braves | National League | 1 (5) |
| Raúl Valdés (159) | 2010 (4/11/2010) | LHP | New York Mets | National League | 2 (45) |
| Dayan Viciedo (160) | 2010 (6/20/2010) | Infield | Chicago White Sox | American League | 3 (68) |
| Aroldis Chapman (161) | 2010 (8/31/2010) | LHP | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 3 (70) |
| Yonder Alonso (162) | 2010 (9/1/2010) | Outfield | Cincinnati Reds | National League | 3 (71) |
| Yunieski Maya (163) | 2010 (9/7/2010) | RHP | Washington Nationals | National League | 2 (11) |
| José Iglesias (164) | 2011 (5/8/2011) | SS | Boston Red Sox | American League | 1 (6) |
| Amaury Sanit (165) | 2011 (5/12/2011) | RHP | New York Yankees | American League | 1 (4) |
| Leonys Martin (166) | 2011 (9/2/2011) | Outfield | Texas Rangers | American League | 2 (3) |
| Yoennis Céspedes (167) | 2012 (3/28/2012) | Outfield | Oakland Athletics | American League | 1 (3) |
Regarding Dawn’s comment, I could not agree more. This is precisely why I follow and admire Cuban League baseball much more than the commercial major league version.
Regarding Michael’s question: Bartolo Portuondo who played in the Cuban professional winter league between 1916 and 1927 was a Black Cuban and thus banned from the North American MLB pro leagues by the racial politics that existed before 1947. He suffered the same fate as Martin Dihigo, Luis Tiant Sr., and other Cuban Black stars of that era. Portuondo did play in North America but in the summer season Negro Leagues. But ironically he also would not have qualified for my list even if he had reached the majors since he was born in Key West. My list includes only Cuban who were actually born in Cuba. Pete Bjarkman
Thanks for including the historic chart, from the 19th Century ’til now! Of especial interest since I just finished teaching Ray Kinsalla’s SHOELESS JOE (and comparing/contrasting it with the subsequent, and unsatisfactory, film version, “Field of Dreams.”) By the way, as I looked through this listing I was trying, but couldn’t, find the name of Omara Portuondo’s father, who she said, in “The Buena Vista Social Club,” played in the Northamerican Major Leagues.
“earning his hefty 4-year $36 million contract”
One may get PAID that much, but I do not see how it is possible for one to EARN that much money for playing ball. Meanwhile teachers in the US are struggling to pay their rent. Some messed up priorities right there.