SKINNY AND INJURED, but HE SIGNED: Incredible story of a Cuban major leaguer

By Miguel Guerra

Despite being a public figure, he has always stayed away from controversy, working hard and tirelessly until he achieved the dream of being nothing more and nothing less than a World Series champion with the Washington Nationals in 2019, entering at the same time in a select group of Cubans who have achieved this important award.

A southpaw with a powerful arm, a pronounced curve and excellent control, just to mention some of his sporting virtues, but where he stands out most is in his human qualities, as described by the people closest to the stellar athlete.

Humble, persevering, disciplined, dedicated to the sport and to his family, are just some of the characteristics of the phenomenal pitcher from Guantanamo. Elias Roenis.

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In his performance with the Guantánamo Indians, he participated in only two National Series with a total of 41 games in which he saw action. He won seven games and lost ten, maintaining a 7.37 ERA in 282 innings pitched, with a WHIP of 2.05 and a total of 66 strikeouts.

Thanks to the great interview given by the outstanding left-handed pitcher in the night space Full Swing Show, we were able to learn many details of his personal life and his athletic performance. Roenis shared anecdotes that are worth listening to on more than one occasion, but there was one in particular that captivated us in a different way.

Mainly because we understand that many Cubans will feel represented by this story, since it covers a large part of how the Guantanamo left Cuba, an event experienced by any Cuban who lives outside the island.

As he himself stated, when he left Cuba he did not look like a baseball player, alluding to his physical condition, which could be greatly improved.

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How was that transition from when you left until you managed to sign?

«When I left Cuba I arrived in Mexico, I arrived in Cancún, there I spent almost two months locked up in a hotel because I had no papers. It was a difficult process because you couldn’t do many of the things you did in Cuba, because you didn’t have papers. Since you go out on the street they know you’re not from there.

«Then I moved to Monterrey and we started training with the great coach Miguel Valdés, we worked there for 7 months, they were very hard months because I arrived very skinny, everyone told me that I had to gain weight».

“Even when I arrived with the agent who had us, he told me that he had to go to the Dominican because he didn’t look like a baseball player, because of how skinny he was. But when I started training they saw that the ball walked me.

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“Then they started looking for a way for me to gain weight, I went to the gym three times a day.”

«One day Miguel Valdés tells me: “you are going to shoot 95 miles, the arm action you have is too good, we are going to work with your body and you will see that you are going to shoot hard”».

«We continued training and while there was a presentation, several teams came to see me and everyone said that I was skinny, and I said: “but I came here to play ball, not to be a model”».

«At that time I met my wife, we were already sweethearts when it was time for the signing, twelve teams went to Monterrey to see us, we were like eight Cubans».

«We did a tryout, I made the presentation with a pain in my arm, a pain in my elbow that drove me crazy and they told me: “hey, but you are sure you can throw balls like that”».

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«I said: “brother, look, I’m crazy to get out of here, if not I can shoot with my left foot, I’m going to shoot with my right, I’m going to shoot with whatever, what I want is to leave, to be signed for get out of here.”

«Brother likewise with pain in my arm, I put on menthol to warm up my arm, I threw four innings like that, with the pain of my soul, they gave me only one hit. I said, well, if I don’t sign this, I’m going to work at Walmart or sell peanuts, I’m going to do something, but if I don’t sign this, something is going to happen.”

“The scouts left, everyone was happy and we waited to see what would happen. That was at the end of April, the Mariners called, the Yankees had called but they were offering very little money. The Mariners gave us the money we were looking for. They tell me they want to take me, I tell them: “no, take me now, I’m crazy to leave. Where do you have to sign to leave here?

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“On May 3, the same day as my mother’s birthday, I signed my contract with the Seattle Mariners. I said: “My God at last, this is a sign that I had to leave here now.” This was my trajectory, I spent seven months living in Monterrey, but thank God I met my wife there and I signed the same day as my mother’s birthday.

The story told by Roenis Elías is very interesting and undoubtedly stirs up many beautiful feelings, especially among Cubans and baseball fans.

To complement this incredible anecdote, it should be noted that after his participation with the Seattle Mariners, he also pitched with the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals, maintaining good numbers in his MLB career. For his career in the big leagues he pitches for a 3.97 earned run average, in a total of 126 games in which he has seen action. He has won 22 games, lost 24 and saved 14. In addition to maintaining a WHIP of 1.32 and having 325 strikeouts in his career as a pitcher.

Do not forget to leave your opinion in the comment box, about this incredible story.

In the following video you can enjoy the full show with Roenis Elías:

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