Kendry Morales Leads Angels to Playoffs

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 5 – In five years Kendry Morales has gone from a budding star of the Cuban National Team to a 26-year-old fixture at first base for the Los Angeles Angels in the US Major Leagues.

Kendry spent four years in the minors after leaving Cuba on a speedboat, his career on the island abruptly interrupted when he was accused of talking to an agent when the Cuban National Team was playing in Panama.

Such an accusation has caused numerous top players and prospects to be suspended from playing on the national team or in the Cuban league.   The last two most painful cases were the islands top lefty, Aroldis Chapman, and last season’s top righty, Yunieski Maya.

On Thursday, Kendry will be starting on first base as the Angels open their first round playoff series.  During the current season, his first full year in the majors, Kendry batted .306, blasted 34 home runs and drove in 108 runs, all leaders on his squad.

Cuban fans with access to Internet keep track of Kendry and other players from the island playing in the US Major Leagues.  The Cuban press totally ignores any baseball player that has left the island to sign professional contracts in other countries.

To read the complete Los Angeles Times feature by Kevin Baxter on Kendry Morales click here.