Team boots 2 pitchers after defection bids

Posted on Monday, 07.07.14

Cuba: Team boots 2 pitchers after defection bids
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HAVANA -- Villa Clara pitchers Diosdani Castillo and Yasmany Hernandez
Romero have been indefinitely kicked off their club after they recently
attempted to defect, according to Cuban official media.

The Vanguardia newspaper of Villa Clara province said Castillo and
Hernandez tried to leave the island about two weeks ago.

"They will no longer wear the orange jersey following a grave
indiscipline," Vanguardia reported over the weekend.

Villa Clara is the reigning champion of the Cuban baseball league, and
orange is its signature color.

Sports officials announced in late June that Castillo, Hernandez and
several players from other clubs would be left off a national squad that
is set to face a team of U.S. collegians later this month.

All were said to have made "illegal exit attempts." At least one of the
players named, Yasmani Tomas of the Havana team Industriales, was
successful.

Cuban ballplayers who leave often hope to compete in the United States,
where potential multimillion-dollar contracts beckon.

Cuba recently began letting some players still in their prime sign
temporary contracts in other leagues such as Japan.

Source: HAVANA: Cuba: Team boots 2 pitchers after defection bids -
Baseball Wires - MiamiHerald.com -
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/07/4222626/cuba-team-boots-2-pitchers-after.html