Baseball: Two more Cuban players get contracts with Major League teams

Havana/Cuban baseball players Edenis Cruz and Anthony Calderón reached agreements with US Major League teams. Journalist Francys Romero confirmed the contracts with Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.

Cruz and Calderón broke ties with the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), which has been forcing its baseball talents since last year to sign agreements that commit them to recognizing the organization as mandatory agent and the payment of 10 million dollars in compensation for having financed their training in the event that the young people leave the Island and seek new horizons.

Cruz and his twin brother, Eduman, boarded a flight last June that took them to the Dominican Republic. The players arrived at the Dan Reverte Academy, located in San Pedro de Macorís, which is considered one of the best in the country.

The arrival of the 19-year-old right-hander from Camagüey was followed by several Major League clubs. The talent scouts had the young man’s history in the U-18 World Cup held in Okinawa, Japan, where against Italy he pitched five innings and allowed only one hit in Cuba’s 8-0 victory.

According to Francys Romero and Cruz’s qualities, he is projected to be a 91-94 mph pitcher with zone management. strike. This was instrumental in the Texas Rangers giving him a $145,000 bonus.

For his part, Anthony Calderón, who left the Island last March, reached an agreement with the Atlanta Braves. The only thing that remains is the medical examination. Since his arrival in the Dominican Republic he was welcomed by the Academy of former Major League player Alex Sánchez. In the same place are the Cubans Oliver Monteagudo and Alex Batista, who also decided to break with Cuban baseball.

Calderón sparked the interest of 10 Major League teams. The talent scouts highlighted the Holguin native’s “power, hitting skills, leadership behind home and defense and arm,” said Romero.

The Island continues to suffer the abandonment of its young baseball promises. The communicator recalled that until August of this year there were “between 45 and 60 departures of players in different categories, many of them between the ages of 13 and 17, who are the players that interest the industry the most. Many of these boys already have pre-agreements.”

At the beginning of October, it was confirmed that Rodelvis Santiesteban He signed with the Chicago Cubs, while Omar Elías Guerra reached an agreement with the San Diego Padres club.