By José Alejandro Rodríguez Zas
At the end of January 2013, the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) made public the initial list of 28 players that would make up the Cuba team to the III World Baseball Classic, an event scheduled from March 2 to 19 of that year.
Beyond the usual and eternal debate on the reasons for the inclusion or exclusion of this or that player, there was an issue that caused annoyance and disappointment to most lovers of Cuban ball: the receiver Ariel Pestano he was not on the list for the important event.
Pestano, 38 years old at the time and, for many, the best receiver in the history of the National Series and the Cuba team, was left out of the payroll, as the managers leaned towards Yulexis La Rosa (Villa Clara), Frank Camilo Morejón (Industriales) and Eriel Sánchez (Sancti Spiritus).
“I feel surprised, speechless, in a bad mood, because my health is perfect, I think even in my best moment,” Pestano assured the Cuban press at that time, possessing numbers similar to the receivers chosen for the Cuba team, in the National Series being played.
“It is a tough time, the reasons for my exclusion are only known by those responsible, but I am not one of those who think that everything ends in one day, I will continue fighting as always,” emphasized Pestano.
A month later, in February, the final list of Cuban players at the aforementioned event was announced, with a dozen changes with respect to the initial list, including the addition of a fourth receiver: Yosvani Peraza from Pinar del Río.
In this way, the controversial decision of the absence of Pestano in the national team at the III World Baseball Classic was ratified. There was no second chance or rectifications for him, and everything indicated that Pestano would take the path of retirement… and so it was.
“What hurt me was not that they had excluded me, because I, in part, was already preparing myself psychologically that everything that begins ends,” explained Pestano in an interview conducted some time later.
“But what did hurt me a lot was that they deceived me, they lied to me, they used me. What hurt me the most was that, at the end of my sports career, they told me that it was no longer of interest to the National Commission “, confessed the historic Villa Clara receiver.
Ariel Pestano He was a three-time holder of the Baseball World Cup (2001, 2003 and 2005), multi-champion in Intercontinental Cups, Pan American Games (1999 and 2003) and Central American Games (2006), as well as the protagonist of the second historical place obtained by Cuba in the I Classic Baseball World Cup, in 2006.
In addition, the Villa Clara receiver was part of the Cuban team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, as well as silver at Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, among other awards.
“It hurt me a lot that they told me that the effort and the fruit of all my medals, they were not going to pay me, because they were no longer valid,” confessed Pestano.
“They told me that they were not going to pay me those medals, simply because I was no longer in the interest of the National Commission,” the player reiterated, confirming that the then Cuban baseball official had told him and Higinio Vélez had already passed away.
Throughout 22 National Series with the Villa Clara team, Pestano compiled for .287 average, product of 1,532 hits in 5339 times at bat, including 302 doubles, 33 triples and 153 homers. He scored a total of 720 runs and drove in 901, with 681 strikeouts and 649 walks received. His offensive line was .370 / .442 / .812 (OBP / SLU / OPS).
Defensively, Pestano averaged .991, with only 78 errors in 8,319 sets, with 805 assists and participated in 128 double plays. In addition, they stole 353 bases and caught 459 runners, for a magnificent 56.5%.
«To all those who wanted to harm me, I say, that I am the happiest man in the world, I am happier than anyone. I did not need anything that they tried to take away from me, or rather, what I earned, “said the player.
Let us remember that, after that bitter experience, life allowed Ariel Pestano to close his sports career with a flourish, to connect the decisive home run that gave Villa Clara the championship in the 2012-2013 season, against Matanzas, in the night of June 18, 2013.
Pestano officially retired from active sports on September 17, 2013, at the Caibarién stadium, his hometown, in the province of Villa Clara, almost forced by the events that occurred and had a fleeting experience as a professional in Mexican baseball, with the Campeche Pirates, as coach.