Players Reilandy González, Tony Guerra and Lázaro Emilio Blanco requested their withdrawal from Cuban baseball for various reasons. According to the journalist Ernesto Amaya Esquivel, the three athletes were key in the results obtained by Pinar del Río and “they always stepped forward, showed commitment and dedication to their people.”
González’s absence as a player in the Elite League, which is expected to start on October 8, was the prelude to a farewell marked by a lack of opportunities. “I decided not to play anymore, I’ve been having results for three years, sacrificing myself and they didn’t even take me to Curaçao,” the Pinar del Rio reliever denounced last Friday.
This player lived his best moment in the 60th National Series with a 3-1 record: he saved six games, poncho to 45 batters (49 innings) and his clean average was 1.82. With these numbers, González exposed the communicator, they did not call him for any of the pre-selections, in that year. “I’m not going to go anywhere by launching the Elite Series or the other National Series,” he lamented.
Another factor that discouraged González was the low salary and the limitations. “We figured it out and in a sports team we won more than in the series”, evidenced the athlete.
Similar situation lives Tony Guerra. The 24-year-old from Pinar del Río was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the I Junior Pan American Games that took place in Calí, Colombia (2021). Surprising the decision of this athlete who made a difference with his home runs and provided several wins to the Vegueros team.
“We figured it out and in a sports team we won more than in the series”, evidenced Reilandy González
González and Guerra were joined by the veteran Lázaro Emilio Blanco, the 37-year-old outfielder, who with this decision seems to put an end to his career as a player. In addition to being an active athlete, Blanco has studies in automotive mechanics and a bachelor’s degree in Physical Culture.
The request to withdraw from baseball for these players comes while others continue to leave the island. This exodus to the United States does not stop. “In this phenomenon, more than thirty players have arrived via the border from Mexico to the United States during the current 2022,” said journalist Francys Romero.
On Saturday, the natural right pitcher from Matanzas, Alain López, arrived in the US. The communicator specified that this young man was able to achieve his dream thanks to the fact that he resorted to “the path of family claim” and will settle in Florida.
López was “leader in effectiveness of the 2019-2020 National Youth Championship with Matanzas. He participated in nine victories for his Matanzas team in the last National Youth”, public the portal FR Baseball!
One day before López set foot on US territory, it was confirmed that Cuban Juan Carlos Hernández had arrived in Miami. The former Mayabeque player left the island and took the Nicaraguan route from where he began his journey until he reached the Mexican city of Piedras Negras, in Coahuila, where, after 25 days, he was able to cross the Rio Grande.
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