Miami Herald: Cuban baseball player defects

“No, I’ll make a comment. The evil empire

White Sox? Marlins? Rays? extends their tentacles even into Latin America”

Cuban baseball’s brightest star, Dayán Viciedo, has escaped from Cuba and is now in Miami, following the footsteps of talented island colleagues who have found their way into the major leagues.

Viciedo, a 19-year-old third baseman, is considered as big a star in Cuba as Omár Linares, the most well-rounded player to emerge from the Cuban leagues since 1959 and a player highly coveted by major league scouts during the 1980s.

‘‘At first I didn’t like to be compared to Linares because he is almost a legend,’’ Viciedo said. ``Later, I felt proud. As a third baseman I have two idols: Linares from the Cuban National Series and Alex Rodriguez from the major leagues.’‘

...Viciedo said that during the last year his mind has been on his plans to defect from Cuba.

‘‘There is still very good baseball in Cuba, and there are several youths with promise and a lot of talent that are moving up,’’ he said. ``But in general the level has dropped . . . the decline has been abysmal.’‘