United States to allow MLB players to play for Cuba in World Baseball Classic

The United States is permitting MLB players that are from Cuba to play for their home country in the World Baseball Classic in March. 

A press release from the Baseball Federation of Cuba on Saturday viewed this as a “positive step” that could put the country back on the baseball map. MLB confirmed the move on Monday, via the Associated Press.

Much like the Dominican Republic, Cuba’s love for baseball trumps that of soccer, which many other Latin American countries find to be more popular. However, in recent years, the usually dominant Cuban baseball team has fallen off due to geopolitical issues between both countries.

Major League players from Cuba have had to defect to play professionally and earn money, as the communist Cuban government prohibited professional sports after the revolution 60 years ago.

So players like Randy Arozarena, José Abreu and Yordan Alvarez have had to make a name for themselves in the United States after defecting. And Cuba has historically not allowed those that defected to play for their national team. 

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Because of that, their best players couldn’t aid them in reaching the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for example. Cuba has been a powerhouse for years in the Olympics, winning medals in baseball. 

But Cuba seems to be turning their mindset around. In November, several players who defected were invited to play for the World Baseball Classic team, if they so choose. 

Yet, Cuban officials accused President Joe Biden and his administration of blocking those players from accepting the invitations, hence this latest news that they will be allowed now to represent their country. 

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While it is viewed as a move in the right direction, Baseball Federation of Cuba president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo criticized the U.S. in a tweet on Saturday, saying “it is arbitrary and discriminatory that a permit from the government of this country (the U.S.) is needed to attend” the tournament.

Pérez Pardo said that the FCB should have more details about their roster, which needs to be in by Feb. 7. The 30 Cuban players will prepare for their first WBC game against the Netherlands in Taiwan on March 8. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.