By José Alejandro Rodríguez Zas
The Cuba Baseball team that participated in the III U23 Baseball World Cup based in the state of Sonora, Mexico, will travel in the early hours of this Monday, October 4, back to the island. So far, 11 young Cuban prospects out of a total of 24 players who made up the initial roster, decided escape from the group led by Eriel Sánchez, seeking a better personal and family life and the possibility of making his way, independently, in professional baseball.
This number represents, by far, the highest accumulated for a baseball team in any international event in which Cuba participated and among the highest for any Antillean national team, a list that, almost certainly, could be increased in the next few hours. .
The second player to join that list It was the 20-year-old right-hander from Santiago, Uber Luis Mejías, who decided to escape on September 23 from the Cuban concentrate in Ciudad Obregón, at the command of the former receiver from Spiritus, leaving at that time the total number of players available for Cuba. Luis Danys Morales left the team just upon arrival in Mexico City, capital of the country, at the “Benito Juárez” international airport, being in charge of opening the account.
Regarding the indomitable launcher, journalist Francys Romero reported today on his Twitter profile, from sources consulted, that Mejías would have crossed the northern border of Mexico in the direction of the United States and would already be on North American soil, taking his first steps solid in pursuit of free agency and a subsequent professional contract.
«The one born in Santiago de Cuba walked out of the hotel and got into a car. Ten days later, Mejías is already in the territory of the United States, after crossing the border and requesting political asylum, ”Francys explained as part of his publication.
With experience of two National Series, Mejías He is a pitcher with more than 90 miles on his straight and a youth that guarantees results from good preparation. He pitched 45 games in Cuba, mainly as a reliever, in which he accumulated one victory and four failures, with high ERA of 6.38 and WHIP of 1.71, as well as a rival average of .294, with 44 strikeouts and 40 walks.
Beyond opinions, political positions, criticism or praise and while questions from here and there change, wishing the best of luck and success in their future, both to Mejías and to the rest of the young talents who escaped from the team, is what that we should all do, as Cubans, baseball lovers and human beings that we are.