Foreign Exchange: How Cuban Baseball Players Fare in the MLB

The current crop of stars are making an impact.

How Current Crop of Cuban Players Are Faring in the MLB - On Monday, the Boston Red Sox became the latest Major League Baseball team to land a prized free agent from Cuba by agreeing to terms with 19-year-old infielder Yoan Moncada, as reported by ESPN. This comes after they already signed another Cuban infielder, Rusney Castillo, to a six-year, $72.5 million deal last August. Although the Red Sox are the latest ball club to dabble in Cuban talent, the MLB’s pipeline to Cuba dates back decades. Players such as Rolando Arrojo, Danys Baez, Orlando Hernandez and Livan Hernandez during the 1990s really helped put the island on the scouting maps of MLB teams, paving the way for the current explosion of Cuban talent running rampant in the Majors today. So how is the current crop of Cuban players doing? Let's see.(Photos from left: MLB.com, Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images, Mark Cun...

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How Current Crop of Cuban Players Are Faring in the MLB - On Monday, the Boston Red Sox became the latest Major League Baseball team to land a prized free agent from Cuba by agreeing to terms with 19-year-old infielder Yoan Moncada, as reported by ESPN. This comes after they already signed another Cuban infielder, Rusney Castillo, to a six-year, $72.5 million deal last August. Although the Red Sox are the latest ball club to dabble in Cuban talent, the MLB’s pipeline to Cuba dates back decades. Players such as Rolando Arrojo, Danys Baez, Orlando Hernandez and Livan Hernandez during the 1990s really helped put the island on the scouting maps of MLB teams, paving the way for the current explosion of Cuban talent running rampant in the Majors today. So how is the current crop of Cuban players doing? Let's see.(Photos from left: MLB.com, Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images, Mark Cun...

Yoan Moncada - In agreeing to terms for Yoan Moncada, the Boston Red Sox not only acquire a 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder, but they also land a player that their rival New York Yankees wanted. Moncada was heavily touted before the Red Sox landed him Monday via a $31.5 million deal, including a $8.27 bonus, as reported by MLB.com. (Photo: MLB.com)

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Yoan Moncada - In agreeing to terms for Yoan Moncada, the Boston Red Sox not only acquire a 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder, but they also land a player that their rival New York Yankees wanted. Moncada was heavily touted before the Red Sox landed him Monday via a $31.5 million deal, including a $8.27 bonus, as reported by MLB.com. (Photo: MLB.com)

Yasiel Puig - Yasiel Puig is the current face of players who have defected from Cuba. The center fielder fled Cuba in 2012 and signed a seven-year $42 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making his debut in June 2013. Although Puig gets criticized for sometimes not respecting the game, he was an All-Star last season for hitting .296 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI. At only 24, Puig also has a chance to mature into a baseball star for many years to come. (Photo: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

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Yasiel Puig - Yasiel Puig is the current face of players who have defected from Cuba. The center fielder fled Cuba in 2012 and signed a seven-year $42 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making his debut in June 2013. Although Puig gets criticized for sometimes not respecting the game, he was an All-Star last season for hitting .296 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI. At only 24, Puig also has a chance to mature into a baseball star for many years to come. (Photo: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

Alex Guerrero - After enjoying instant success with Yasiel Puig in 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers didn't waste time digging back into Cuba's pipeline for talent. Last season, they added second baseman Alex Guerrero, who saw limited action in 2014, but could receive more field time this year. (Photo: STR/AFP/GettyImages)

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Alex Guerrero - After enjoying instant success with Yasiel Puig in 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers didn't waste time digging back into Cuba's pipeline for talent. Last season, they added second baseman Alex Guerrero, who saw limited action in 2014, but could receive more field time this year. (Photo: STR/AFP/GettyImages)

Yoenis Cespedes - Yoenis Cespedes is not only one of the best Cuban players in Major League Baseball today...he's one of the best players in the Majors, period. The left fielder hit .260 with 22 homers and 100 RBI while spliting time between the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox last season. The two-time Home Run derby champ (2013-14) was traded to the Detroit Tigers this past December.(Photo: Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Yoenis Cespedes - Yoenis Cespedes is not only one of the best Cuban players in Major League Baseball today...he's one of the best players in the Majors, period. The left fielder hit .260 with 22 homers and 100 RBI while spliting time between the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox last season. The two-time Home Run derby champ (2013-14) was traded to the Detroit Tigers this past December.(Photo: Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Yasmany Tomas - Yasmany Tomas hasn't had a single at-bat in the Majors, but the Arizona Diamondbacks felt good enough about the 24-year-old prospect to sign him to a six-year, $68.5 million deal last November. They're betting on the right fielder to be worth that kind of money and then some with many more returns. (Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

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Yasmany Tomas - Yasmany Tomas hasn't had a single at-bat in the Majors, but the Arizona Diamondbacks felt good enough about the 24-year-old prospect to sign him to a six-year, $68.5 million deal last November. They're betting on the right fielder to be worth that kind of money and then some with many more returns. (Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Leonys Martin - Leonys Martin defected from Cuba in 2010, but it wasn't until 2013 that he had his full first season, playing in 147 of the Texas Rangers' 162 games that year. The center fielder tallied a .260 batting average, eight home runs and 49 RBIs in 2013, before putting up totals of .274, seven homers and 40 RBI. At 26, Martin remains a work in progress for the Rangers, but one with promise.  (Photo: Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

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Leonys Martin - Leonys Martin defected from Cuba in 2010, but it wasn't until 2013 that he had his full first season, playing in 147 of the Texas Rangers' 162 games that year. The center fielder tallied a .260 batting average, eight home runs and 49 RBIs in 2013, before putting up totals of .274, seven homers and 40 RBI. At 26, Martin remains a work in progress for the Rangers, but one with promise.  (Photo: Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

Adeiny Hechavarria - Adeiny Hechavarria took a place on the MLB's Top Prospects list in 2013 and ran with it, improving his batting average from .227 that year to .276 in 2014. Baseball scouts expect to see those numbers improve for the young shortstop as he enters his third season with the Miami Marlins.(Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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Adeiny Hechavarria - Adeiny Hechavarria took a place on the MLB's Top Prospects list in 2013 and ran with it, improving his batting average from .227 that year to .276 in 2014. Baseball scouts expect to see those numbers improve for the young shortstop as he enters his third season with the Miami Marlins.(Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Jose Fernandez - The Miami Marlins got a player in Jose Fernandez. The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher thanked the organization for giving him a shot in 2013 by winning the National League Rookie of the Year award and then for an encore had a 4-2 record with 70 strikeouts in 2014. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery. This season will be key for Fernandez to see if he can bounce back.(Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Jose Fernandez - The Miami Marlins got a player in Jose Fernandez. The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher thanked the organization for giving him a shot in 2013 by winning the National League Rookie of the Year award and then for an encore had a 4-2 record with 70 strikeouts in 2014. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery. This season will be key for Fernandez to see if he can bounce back.(Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Kendrys Morales - Kendrys Morales has built a reputation for being a serviceable designated hitter through eight years in the Majors. The 31-year-old Formento, Cuba, native signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Kansas City Royals this past December after hitting eight homers and 42 RBI in a quiet year. The Royals are hoping he can tap into some of the power he exhibited back in 2009, when he smashed 34 long balls and 108 RBI with the Los Angeles Angels.(Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Kendrys Morales - Kendrys Morales has built a reputation for being a serviceable designated hitter through eight years in the Majors. The 31-year-old Formento, Cuba, native signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Kansas City Royals this past December after hitting eight homers and 42 RBI in a quiet year. The Royals are hoping he can tap into some of the power he exhibited back in 2009, when he smashed 34 long balls and 108 RBI with the Los Angeles Angels.(Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Jose Abreu - When the Chicago White Sox took a chance on Jose Abreu out of Cuba in October 2013, they were importing for power. And power is what the 28-year-old first baseman provided plenty of in 2014. Abreu hit .317 with impressive power numbers to the tune of 36 home runs and 107 RBI. Pitchers better bring their best when stepping to this 2014 American League Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger recipient.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) 

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Jose Abreu - When the Chicago White Sox took a chance on Jose Abreu out of Cuba in October 2013, they were importing for power. And power is what the 28-year-old first baseman provided plenty of in 2014. Abreu hit .317 with impressive power numbers to the tune of 36 home runs and 107 RBI. Pitchers better bring their best when stepping to this 2014 American League Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger recipient.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) 

Alexei Ramirez - The Chicago White Sox's 2008 investment in shortstop Alexei Ramirez has paid dividends, especially last season, in which his .274 batting average, 15 homers and 74 RBI were good enough to make him an All-Star and earn a Silver Slugger award. Those are solid power numbers for a shortstop.(Photo: Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

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Alexei Ramirez - The Chicago White Sox's 2008 investment in shortstop Alexei Ramirez has paid dividends, especially last season, in which his .274 batting average, 15 homers and 74 RBI were good enough to make him an All-Star and earn a Silver Slugger award. Those are solid power numbers for a shortstop.(Photo: Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Yunel Escobar - Yunel Escobar's power numbers dipped last season, but with a new team — the Washington Nationals — the 32-year-old shortstop has a chance to bounce back. The 2015 season will mark Escobar's ninth season in the Majors.(Photo: Abelimages/Getty Images)

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Yunel Escobar - Yunel Escobar's power numbers dipped last season, but with a new team — the Washington Nationals — the 32-year-old shortstop has a chance to bounce back. The 2015 season will mark Escobar's ninth season in the Majors.(Photo: Abelimages/Getty Images)

Aroldis Chapman - Aroldis Chapman has as interesting a story as any Cuban baseball player that made it to the big leagues. The southpaw flamethrower failed at his initial attempt to detract from the island in 2008, but when he finally made it to the Majors in 2010, he made the most of his opportunity. Chapman broke out with 38 saves in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He might have eclipsed that mark had it not been for him missing a month after he was hit in the head by a line drive last March. Chapman, 26, still recorded 36 saves and 100 strikeouts.(Photo: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)

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Aroldis Chapman - Aroldis Chapman has as interesting a story as any Cuban baseball player that made it to the big leagues. The southpaw flamethrower failed at his initial attempt to detract from the island in 2008, but when he finally made it to the Majors in 2010, he made the most of his opportunity. Chapman broke out with 38 saves in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He might have eclipsed that mark had it not been for him missing a month after he was hit in the head by a line drive last March. Chapman, 26, still recorded 36 saves and 100 strikeouts.(Photo: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)