Author Topic: Another Cuban defector  (Read 2872 times)

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Offline zimm_da_kid

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Another Cuban defector
« Topic Start: June 19, 2012, 11:21:43 AM »
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120619&content_id=33556394&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

here's an excerpt
 
Quote
The latest Cuban prospect expected to hit the market just might be the most coveted young outfielder to leave the island in the last 12 months.

Outfielder Yasel Puig, 21, has defected from Cuba and is in the process of establishing residency in Mexico, the first step to becoming eligible for free agency, his agent Jaime Torres said.

A showcase for Major League scouts is tentatively scheduled for later this week in Mexico City.

"As of Monday morning, I submitted information to Major League Baseball and the Players Association that he has taken up residency in Mexico and will shortly establish legal permanent residency in Mexico," Torres said. "We should have documentation of his legal permanent residency in Mexico soon and as soon as I have that, I will submit it to Major League Baseball and I hope and expect that he will be declared a free agent immediately."

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Puig is a known commodity in international circles. He played two seasons for Cienfuegos in the island's top league, Cuban National Series (Serie Nacional), and was a member of the country's national team that finished second in the 2011 World Port Tournament in The Netherlands.

"There has not been a player as proven and as young to come to the States from Cuba," Torres said. "It's one thing to come to the United States at 19 or 20 years old with a few at-bats or some experience on a national level but this guy has years of national experience under his belt."