The World Cup, played in Obregón and Hermosillo, between 12 teams and won by Venezuela, “It will be remembered as the World Cup of ‘dropouts’,” added Romero.
Although in recent years the escape of Cuban players on trips abroad has been frequent, the stampede in this tournament has been historic.
The negative record for massive dropouts in a Cuban baseball tournament dated back to 1996, when five players from the Industriales team left the squad at the Champions Clubs tournament, also in Mexico.
The Cuba 🇨🇺 baseball team that achieved 4th place in the III U-23 World Cup arrived in Havana in the early hours of the morning with 12 players, 50% of whom initially left. It will be remembered as the World Cup of “dropouts”. pic.twitter.com/UxprWXLOim
– Francys Romero (@ francysromero10)
October 4, 2021
“Congratulations to all and go home with your heads held high and keep fighting to continue being Cuban players,” Raúl Fornés, vice president of the Sports Institute (Inder) told them upon arrival at the airport, according to a report. of the Cuban TV.
Despite the difficulties faced, the many pressures and the foul play of which they were the center, they knew how to raise the flag and fight with fervor
In a statement read upon arrival and published in the digital sports newspaper Jit, the members of the team said that they returned “to the homeland with the satisfaction of having been faithful to them, we appreciate the displays of affection, trust and support received.”
With a broken voice, the head of refereeing and treasurer of the Cuban federationLuis Daniel del Risco, admitted to television: “It was a tough battle, the boys who remained represented the country well.”
Desertion has been the Achilles heel of Cuban baseball for years and players turn to it to play in the Major Leagues in the United States, due to the embargo laws in force since 1962.
After emigrating through different channels, dozens of Cuban players have had success in the Major Leagues as in the case of the retired stars Orlando “Duque” Hernández, José Contreras, Kendrys Morales, and currently others such as José Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, Yulieski Gurriel, José Adolis García and Luis Robert.