The baseball player Yasiel González, who left the National Series three months ago due to low salaries, is now looking for opportunities to enter the Major Leagues from the Dominican Republic.
The current salary of the players is not enough “to cover all the needs of the athletes”, commented Francys Romero, journalist and sports commentator, on her social networks.
The choice of González, who played as an outfielder for the Holguín team, has no “restrictions”, so he can sign with any team that is willing to negotiate according to his terms, the journalist said.
Players in the National Series earn an average of 3,500 Cuban pesos (about 17 dollars at the current informal exchange rate), in a country where the minimum wage is 2,100 pesos a month (less than 11 dollars).
The tabulator that dates from 2020 for baseball players on the Island depends on their category. A member of the national preselection who participates in the National Series receives 3,725 Cuban pesos (19 dollars) monthly, the member of the Reserve of the National Preselection and National Series receives 2,400 (12 dollars), public Play Off Magazine.
The current salary of the players is not enough “to cover all the needs of the athletes,” said Francys Romero, journalist and sports commentator
González, with six seasons in his career, was among the group of athletes who subsist on less than $17 a month and some extras obtained from the products they receive as part of their diet.
The player “has an excellent physique and that will impress the talent evaluators in the Dominican Republic,” said Francys Romero. He also recalled that González’s best campaign with the Holguín team was in the 2021-2022 season.
The Dominican Republic is one of the countries that has served as a springboard for exiled Cuban athletes. Last Friday, Lisbel Díaz, a 17-year-old baseball player who left the Island last year, signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants.
Díaz’s professional development will take place at the Rookie level of the Dominican Summer League, where there are 29 other Cuban players who are monitored by the Major League teams. Among the athletes are Anthony Scull, Dariam Gutiérrez and Sadiel Baró.
The flight of players added to the lack of bats and balls has plunged Cuban baseball into a crisis. Prior to the postseason of the 62nd National Baseball Series, Alexis Miguel Varona and Lázaro Viciedo also requested to leave the Sancti Spíritus team.
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