For the first time since 1968, eight baseball players of Cuban origin will appear in the MLB All-Star game. Throw in Cuban Americans, and the total goes to 11.
Via CiberCuba (my translation):
Historic: Eight Cubans will play in the Major League All-Star game
A total of eight Cubans were selected to participate in the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which is now considered a historic season for players from the island and a milestone in the 90-year existence of the most elite baseball event in the world.
Joining the two dazzling Tampa Bay Rays players Randy Arozarena and Yandy Díaz, who were previously announced as part of the starting roster for the American League by fan votes, are Avilés reliever Yennier Cano, and outfielders Luis Robert Jr. (CWS), Yordan Álvarez (HOU), and Adolis García (TEX), who were named as reserves. The announcement of the roster was made on Sunday during an ESPN broadcast.
On the National League side, Lourdes Jr. Gurriel, outfielder for the Diamondbacks, and Miami slugger Jorge Soler, were selected as reserves.
According to journalist Francys Romero, these eight Cuban players break a historic record of 55 years for the highest number of Cuban participants in these games since 1968 when Joaquín Azcue, Bert Campaneris, Leo Cárdenas, Tony Oliva, Tany Pérez, and Luis Tiant were part of the All-Star Game.
In total, there will be 11 players of Cuban descent in the All-Star Game, counting Cuban-Americans Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals), JD Martínez (Los Angeles Dodgers), and Nick Castellanos (Philadelphia Phillies).
This achievement of Cuban baseball in the MLB reflects what has been an outstanding season, especially for the batters, who are leading in many of the most important offensive categories.
As of this Sunday, Díaz ranks third in the MLB with a batting average of .319; Robert (24), Soler (22), and Adolis (20) are among the top ten home run leaders. As for RBIs, Adolis ranks third with 67 and Arozarena sixth with 59.
Special mention goes to Yordan Álvarez of the Astros, who was among the leaders in most offensive categories before suffering an injury that has kept him out of the game for the last few weeks.
Álvarez and García are the only ones participating in their second All-Star Game.
As for Cano, the only Cuban pitcher in the All-Star Game, he receives recognition after his breakthrough season in the MLB, following years of striving to establish himself at the highest level of baseball.
The Avilés reliever has 18 holds in 40.1 innings of play and had several weeks without conceding runs after making his debut this season.
The 2023 All-Star Game will take place on July 11th in Seattle at the T-Mobile Park, the home of the Mariners. One day before, the highly anticipated Home Run Derby will be held, where the Pinar del Río native, Arozarena, will represent Cuba.
Son de verdad once (11) jugadores cubanos si contamos tambien a los cubanos-americanos y de padres cubanos, como Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez y Nolan Arenado.