Cuba says three baseball players flee island

Cuba says three baseball players flee island
Friday, February 13, 2015 | 2:56 PM

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba confirmed Friday that three baseball players
have fled the island, the latest in a series of defections affecting the
sports powerhouse.

Cuba's national baseball commissioner, Heriberto Suarez, identified the
men as utility player Osniel Madera, infielder Lazaro Alonso and catcher
Yoel Rojas -- all members of the Vegueros de Pinar del Rio club.

He provided no details on the circumstances around their departure, but
they had been rumoured to be missing for several days.

Vegueros de Pinar del Rio last week won the Caribbean Series held in
Puerto Rico, where two other Cuban players -- shortstop Dainer Moreira
and pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez -- were reported to have defected.

For the past two years, Cuba has allowed most athletes to travel abroad,
but the island's elite players must still get government permission.

The rosters of US Major League Baseball teams are peppered with Cuban
players who have made their way north.

Source: Cuba says three baseball players flee island - Latest News -
JamaicaObserver.com -
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Cuba-says-three-baseball-players-flee-island