He is considered Cuba’s biggest baseball star since Omar Linares, who was the most well-rounded player to emerge from the Cuban leagues since 1959 and a player highly coveted by major-league scouts in the 1980s.
And now, 19-year-old Dayan Viciedo did something Linares did not: He has defected from Cuba and is in Miami.
“At first I didn’t like to be compared to Linares because he is almost a legend,” Viciedo told El Nuevo Herald. “Later, I felt proud. As a third baseman I have two idols: Linares from the Cuban National Series and Alex Rodriguez from the major leagues.”
According to El Nuevo Herald, Viciedo left Cuba on a boat bound for Mexico on May 20, accompanied by his family. Several days later he crossed the border from Mexico and traveled to Miami to reunite with friends and relatives.
“Most Cuban ballplayers dream of playing in the major leagues,” he said. “This is an aspiration that comes with risks, but I was willing to take them in order to try out.”
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Viciedo is a power hitter and a versatile defender. He started playing baseball in the Cuban majors when he was 15 and was included on the roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
