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Yasiel Puig and fellow Cuban MLB players return to Cuba

By Charles Rahrig V

October 8, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) during workouts before game one of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 8, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) during workouts before game one of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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After fleeing the country when they were younger, Yasiel Puig and several Cuban MLB players returned finally to Cuba.

Over the history of Major League Baseball, there has been some great talent that has successfully defected from Cuba to the United States. Unfortunately for a long time, not every great Cuban baseball player has been able to leave the country to play in the MLB, with their being no relations between the countries.

Now after the United States and Cuba begun re-establishing diplomatic relations, some Cubans in the MLB have finally returned home to an outpouring of fans and family, who finally get to see their best be able to come back home.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Yasiel Puig and several other Cuban baseball players traveled back to their home this week, as the MLB and Cuba try to build a working relationship for the future that can hopefully lead to more Cubans playing in the MLB, and perhaps even some MLB games in Cuba.

Puig, who once had to smuggle his way out of the country, was overcome with joy as he got to return home to his family, according to the Associated Press.

"Puig, who fled to Mexico in a smuggler’s fast-boat in 2012 and then crossed the border to Texas, wrapped his childhood coach Juan Arechavaleta in a bear-hug, resting the side of his face atop the smaller man’s head.“I’m very happy to be here,” said Puig, who signed a seven-year, $42 million contract and was barred from returning to Cuba until he was granted special permission for this week’s trip."

Also on the trip to Cuba was the St. Louis Cardinals‘ Brayan Pena and the Chicago White Sox‘s Jose Abreu and Alexei Ramirez. All of the players are on a three-day mission, where hopefully the MLB and Cuba can establish a future together.

With the vast amount of talent in Cuba and the proud family heritage that these players carry with them, being able to see the two sides work toward a strong future together can only be a great thing for Major League Baseball going forward.

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