Promising Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena defects

Promising Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena defects
Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Sports 7:29 p.m. EST November 19, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Arruebarruena and Iglesias are said to be training in the Dominican
Republic and Mexico, respectively
Arruebarruena is known as an outstanding defensive shortstop

Two more members of Cuba's team in this year's World Baseball Classic
have defected from the island to pursue a career in the majors,
according to multiple news media reports.

Erisbel Arruebarruena, Cuba's starting shortstop in the WBC, and
reliever Raicel Iglesias are said to be training in the Dominican
Republic and Mexico, respectively, according to the Spanish daily El
Nuevo Herald in Miami. Both players are seeking to establish residency
in those countries so they can apply for free agency and negotiate with
MLB teams.

In late October, their WBC teammate Jose Dariel Abreu signed a six-year,
$68 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, the largest contract ever
given a Cuban defector. Also in October, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed
Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero for four years and $28 million.

Arruebarruena and Iglesias, both 23, are not expected to command those
types of figures, but they have drawn interest from big-league clubs.

Arruebarruena, who batted .375 in six WBC games, is known as an
outstanding fielding shortstop in the mold of Jose Iglesias. He enjoyed
the best offensive season of his six years with Cienfuegos of the Cuban
league in 2011-12, when he batted .320 with an .887 on-base plus
slugging percentage.

However, noted Cuban baseball expert and author Peter Bjarkman points
out that while Arruebarruena has displayed great defensive skills,
especially range and the ability to throw from different angles, "he
tries to make too many impossible plays and is dubbed Errorbarruena in
Cuba as a result.''

And despite the enhanced offensive production, there are major questions
about Arruebarruena's ability to hit in the majors. Offensive numbers
tend to be skewed in the Cuban league, where batting averages well above
.300 are common.

The right-handed Raicel Iglesias pitched in relief both in the WBC and
for his Cuban team, Isla de la Juventud, going a combined 4-3 with a
3.71 ERA in 58 games (three starts) in the last two seasons. Bjarkman
rates him as a better prospect because of his "very live arm'' and
previous success at the international level.

Both Arruebarruena and Iglesias were detained in Cuba in September for
trying to defect. If they gain free agency, they may follow in the steps
of a string of Cuban players who have reached the majors in recent
years, making a strong impression.

Among them, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was named last week the
National League rookie of the year, with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Yasiel Puig as the runner-up. In the American League, the Detroit
Tigers' Iglesias finished second in the rookie voting, the same as
Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes last season.

Source: "Promising Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena defects" -
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/11/19/cuban-shortstop-erisbel-arruebarruena-and-pitcher-raicel-iglesias-defect/3643053/