How Many Cuban Baseball Players Are In The MLB?

Cuban baseball players have been defecting to play in the MLB for years. But how many Cuban baseball players are actually in the MLB?

The History of Cuban Baseball Players in the MLB

Since the early 1900’s, Cuban baseball players have made their mark in the major league baseball. Many Cuban players have gone on to have successful careers in the MLB. However, the number of Cuban players in the MLB has decreased in recent years. Let’s take a look at the history of Cuban baseball players in the MLB.

The early years: pre-1900

The early years: pre-1900
The first Cuban players in MLB were right-handed pitcher Adolfo Luque, who debuted in 1914 with the Cincinnati Reds, and Armando Marsans, an outfielder who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1911 to 1913. Luque became the first Cuban-born player to pitch a World Series game in 1919 and would go on to enjoy a 20-year career in the majors. He was also the first Latin American–born player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in 1977.

Marsans, meanwhile, helped the Cardinals win two World Series titles (1911 and 1913) during his three seasons with the team. He returned to Cuba after his MLB career ended and became a star player/manager in Cuban baseball’s professional league, leading Habana to nine league championships.

Other Cubans followed Luque and Marsans to the majors in the early 1900s, including Catcher Mike Gonzalez ( Pittsburgh Pirates, 1907–1908), infielder Baldomero “Merito” Acosta ( New York Giants, 1909), and infielder/outfielder Justo Valdez (Boston Braves, 1909).

The first Cuban player in the MLB: Esteban Bellán

Estebaniano “Steve” Bellán, born in Havana in 1849, became the first Cuban player in MLB history when he joined the Troy (New York) Haymakers as a 19-year-old infielder in 1871. Bellán played four seasons in the National Association, baseball’s first professional league. He hit .273 with one home run and 68 RBIs in 72 games for the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1873, then left the team midseason to return to Cuba.

Bellán rejoined Brooklyn in 1874 and hit .290 with two homers and 41 RBIs in 70 games. He played two more seasons in the National Association before the league disbanded after the 1875 season.

The Cuban Revolution and its impact on MLB

The Cuban Revolution was a time of political and social upheaval in Cuba that began in 1953 and ended in 1959. The revolution overthrew the Cuban government that was led by Fulgencio Batista and replaced it with a communist government under the control of Fidel Castro. After the revolution, many Cuban baseball players left the country to pursue their careers in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Since the early days of MLB, there have been a number of Cuban-born players who have made an impact on the league. In recent years, however, the number of Cuban players in MLB has increased dramatically. As of 2019, there are over 50 Cuban-born players on MLB rosters.

The increase in Cuban players can be traced back to the 2014-15 Major League Baseball season, whenMLB implemented a new rule that allowed players who were under 21 years old and had not played professionally in Cuba to be eligible for free agency. This rule change led to a surge in Cuban players defecting from their home country and signing with MLB teams.

In addition to the rule change, the U.S. government’s decision to normalize relations with Cuba in 2016 has also played a role in the increased number of Cuban players in MLB. After decades of estrangement, the U.S. and Cuba have been working to improve their relationship in recent years. As part of this effort, travel restrictions between the two countries have been loosened, which has made it easier for Cuban baseball players to defect and sign with MLB teams.

The increase in Cuban players has been good for MLB teams as they have brought a wealth of talent to the league. In addition, the presence of Cuban players has also helped to grow baseball’s popularity among Hispanic fans in the United States.

The Current State of Cuban Baseball Players in the MLB

As of the 2019 season, there are a total of 31 Cuban-born baseball players in the MLB. Of those 31 players, 22 were born in Cuba and defected to pursue their MLB career, 6 were born in the U.S. to Cuban parents, and 3 were born in other countries (Dominican Republic, Japan, and Netherlands Antilles).

How many Cuban baseball players are in the MLB?

In recent years, an influx of Cuban players has come into Major League Baseball. These players have often defected from their home country, and often times have enchanting stories of their escapes. While the Cuban national team has been a force in international baseball for years, the number of Cuban players in MLB is still small compared to other countries. Here is a look at the current state of Cuban baseball players in the MLB.

As of the 2019 season, there are a total of 28 Cuban-born players in MLB. This number includes both active and inactive (free agent or retired) players. Of these 28 players, 16 are position players and 12 are pitchers. The majority of these players (17) play in the infield, with shortstop being the most represented position with six Cuban-born shortstops currently in MLB. However, there are also three Cuban-born outfielders, two catchers, and two first basemen. On the pitching side, there are seven relief pitchers, four starting pitchers, and one pitcher who is classified as a “swingman” (a pitcher who can start or relieve).

The 28 Cuban-born MLB players hail from all over Cuba. The Dominican Republic (which has a similar baseball culture to Cuba) is also represented with four players born in that country but who defected from Cuba as young children. There are also two Puerto Rican-born players who defected from Cuba as teenagers. The majority of Cuban-born MLB players (16) currently play for teams in the National League, with only 12 playing in the American League.

The Seattle Mariners have the most Cuban-born MLB player s on their roster with four: right fielder Guillermo Heredia, first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnación , infielder Yolmer Sánchez , and pitcher Pablo López . The Tampa Bay Rays have three: right fielder/first baseman Jorge Soler , starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos , and relief pitcher Diego Castillo . The Miami Marlins have two: catcher Sandy León and second baseman/shortstop Isan Díaz . A total of 14 other teams each have one Cuban-born player on their roster.

While there are currently 28 Cuban-born MLB players, this number could increase or decrease in future seasons depending on various factors such as free agency , trades , and defections .

The top Cuban baseball players in the MLB

As of the 2019 season, there are a total of 24 Cuban-born baseball players in the MLB, divided almost evenly between pitchers and position players. Of these 24, 11 are currentlypitchers, while 13 play various positions. The most common position for Cuban-born players is first baseman, with four players currently occupying that role. In terms of active pitchers, there are seven Cuban-born starters and four relievers.

The vast majority of Cuban-born MLB players have defected from the island in order to pursue their professional careers; only three of the 24 currently playing were born in the United States. The most recent Cuban defector to make it to the MLB is Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano, who arrived in 2016. The current Cuban player with the longest tenure in MLB is Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, who made his debut in 2014.

The future of Cuban baseball players in the MLB

In recent years, Cuban baseball players have increasingly defecting from their home country in order to pursue careers in Major League Baseball (MLB). This trend is likely to continue, as the current Cuban government appears unwilling or unable to prevent its best players from leaving.

The vast majority of Cuban baseball players who have defected have been young, talented prospects who could have had successful careers in the MLB. However, due to the difficult process of defecting and the high risk involved, many of these players have not been able to achieve their full potential.

As more and more Cuban baseball players defect to the MLB, it is possible that the Cuban government will eventually loosens its restrictions on player movement. If this happens, it is likely that we will see an influx of Cuban talent in the MLB, which could be a boon for the sport.