20-year-old shortstop finds way to get into U.S., make new life
PORTLAND -- The decision that would change Jose Iglesias' life was not
planned.
Name: Jose Iglesias
Birthdate: Jan. 5, 1990
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Bats/throws: Right
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Resides: Dominican Republic
Iglesias figured he would leave Cuba for good someday. He just did not
know how or when.
Then came the night in July two years ago, when Iglesias' Cuban National
Junior Baseball Team was playing a tournament in Edmonton, 400-plus
miles north of the U.S. border. Iglesias saw a chance to get away.
"We were in the hotel," Iglesias said. "Everybody was sleeping. I said,
'This is my opportunity. I'm leaving.' We went to the border and asked
for political asylum."
Iglesias, then 18, and pitcher Noel Arguelles took a taxi to Montana,
searched for a policeman and stated their intentions.
And with that story, the Boston Red Sox may have found their future
shortstop.
Iglesias, now 20, received political asylum. He initially joined
Arguelles' father in New York, then traveled to Miami and finally the
Dominican Republic, where he established residency and began showcasing
his skills for major league scouts.
The Red Sox signed him to a four-year, $8.25 million contract last
summer. Iglesias, now 20, has gone from a country where food is rationed
-- "there were days we had no food; you just went hungry" -- to riches
with the Red Sox.
He is playing his first professional baseball season with the Portland
Sea Dogs, the Red Sox Double-A minor league affiliate.
The Red Sox like what they see so far.
"He's very advanced," said Gary DiSarcina, the Sox minor league infield
instructor. "It's easy to get excited about him."
And Iglesias is excited about the opportunity. "I'm very grateful," he said.
But, despite the millions and the freedom, all is not wonderful.
"He misses his family big time," said Alex Ochoa, the former major
leaguer employed by the Red Sox in a variety of roles. Recently, Ochoa
has served as Iglesias' mentor, confidant and interpreter.
"He is really close to his parents," Ochoa said. "He gets sad. It's a
tough thing."
Iglesias, the youngest of six children, said he misses his family the
most "after the game when I go home."
Iglesias has been able to send money to his parents and helped his
father buy a car. Iglesias has spoken occasionally with family. His
ultimate hope is that they can join him in the U.S.
Until then, Iglesias finds comfort on the diamond.
While Iglesias brings energy and excitement to Sea Dogs game, he shows
his true love for the game during pre-game drills. Iglesias fields
practice grounders with enthusiasm, always moving, communicating.
"One thing I love about him is that he enjoys taking ground balls,"
DiSarcina said. "He enjoys working. He wants to get better.
"If you hit him 20 ground balls and he misses one, he wants to take 20
more. The pride he takes in being an infielder, you don't always see in
young kids. He's a joy to be around."
Now, how will Boston mold this joyful shortstop into someone who will
stabilize a position that has undergone so much change the past seven years?
The Red Sox are being careful. They introduced him to professional ball
last autumn with exhibition games in the prospect-rich Arizona Fall league.
At major league spring training, Iglesias held his own, both with his
play and his maturity. That performance convinced the Red Sox to start
him at Double-A against players with much more experience.
And Boston assigned Ochoa to help Iglesias blend into his new country
and with his new employer.
Although born in Miami, Ochoa, 38, knows about Cuba. His parents
immigrated only months before he was born. And Ochoa knows about being a
touted prospect in a big city (with the Mets in 1996).
"You have to concentrate on what you have to do," Ochoa said. "It's
great that people talk great about you. My thing was I was trying to
appease everybody and be what they wanted me to do, instead of playing
my game and letting my abilities gravitate to that level."
His advice to Iglesias: "Just do what you have to do. Improve, and
you'll be what they're saying. But let it happen. Don't force it."
Hyped prospects can take on mythical abilities in the fanatical New
England fans base known as Red Sox Nation. Sea Dogs manager Arnie
Beyeler has been in Portland four years. He knows about hype and
expectations, and about error-prone youth.
"He's a special kid, but he's a young kid. He's going to make mistakes,"
Beyeler said.
Just last Wednesday, Iglesias made two errors in one game -- a bad throw
and a missed grounder.
"I need to clean up stuff I need to clean up to get to the big leagues,"
Iglesias said.
He seems to get the idea of the minor leagues and development. Portland
has seen flashy shortstops before, including Hanley Ramirez and Argenis
Diaz. Both provided exciting moments, but they also under-performed
according to expectations.
Ramirez remained a touted prospect and was traded to the Marlins in the
Josh Beckett deal. Diaz's stock faded and he was traded to Pittsburgh
last year. He is playing well in Triple-A.
Iglesias is being touted as a better fielder than either Ramirez or Diaz
(though certainly not equal to Ramirez's bat).
Iglesias can make acrobatic plays with his great range, quick release
and strong arm. But Boston expects more.
"We have to understand that he's still young," DiSarcina said, "and he
has to learn the intricacies of the position and being in the right
place at the right time, executing fundamentals properly.
"He still has a ways to go. You watch him take ground balls and he has
some flash to him. And it's a good flash. He's not hot-dogging it out
there."
At the plate, Iglesias has not looked over-matched, despite facing
experienced pitchers. Through Thursday, he was batting .266 with seven
doubles and a triple. He has avoided slumps.
"He has the ability to adjust at a quicker pace than you would think a
20-year-old kid coming from a foreign country would have," Ochoa said.
Iglesias is always trying to adjust. He is teaching himself English,
conversing with teammates and coaches, asking questions. During the
interview for this story, Iglesias listened to the questions in English
and tried to answer some of them before Ochoa translated.
Is his English getting better? "Of course."
Is he still watching TV? "Every day."
What's your favorite? "Discovery Channel."
After the interview, Iglesias shook hands and said "Thank you." He seems
grateful for the attention, but does not try a false humility act. He is
aware of who he is. The Red Sox did not throw millions his way out of
charity. They expect Iglesias to deliver, and he believes in his heart
that he will.
"He's really talented," Ochoa said. "He has that thing about him -- the
special skills.
"He believes in his ability. He believes in himself. He has a lot of
confidence. He doesn't get down too much. The little trouble he's had,
he's been able to overcome."
While part of his heart remains in Cuba, with his father, mother, sister
and four brothers, the rest of it is displayed on the diamond, which
happens to be Hadlock Field this year.
"He loves to play the game," Ochoa said. "His passion for the game is
unbelievable. People can say, 'I love the game,' but with him, you can
see it."
http://www.kjonline.com/sports/iglesias-escapes-cuba-finds-home-with-red-sox_2010-05-08.html
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