For Eddie Oropesa, a Memorable Week : Baseball: Drafted Thursday, signed Friday, Cuban defector will be reunited with his mother on his way to Vero Beach.

Nearly one year after defecting from Cuba to seek a professional baseball career in the United States, Eddie Oropesa finds himself caught up in a whirlwind.

Oropesa, a left-handed pitcher, was selected Thursday in the 14th round of the amateur draft. On Friday, he signed with the Dodgers and departed for Florida. And before he reports Monday to the Dodger training camp in Vero Beach, he will be reunited with his mother for the first time since he fled the island.

“This is going to be my best weekend in the United States,” Oropesa said.

Oropesa, 22, might land on the roster of the Dodgers’ double-A team in San Antonio.

“My recommendation (to the Dodgers) is that he pitch double-A ball,” said Mike Brito, the Dodger scout who signed Oropesa. “I like everything about him. He is the kind of left-hander who goes after the hitters. He has a tricky kind of delivery in that he hides the ball well. He has a great overhand curve and he throws strikes.”

On his way to Vero Beach, Oropesa will have a chance to visit with his mother, Magalis Guasch, who recently received permission from the Cuban government to visit relatives in Miami. His wife, Rita Maria, and 4-month-old son, Eddie Jr., are still in Cuba. Oropesa said he will continue efforts to bring them to the United States.

“So many things have rushed through my mind since (Thursday),” Oropesa said. “My mom coming to visit, my wife and my son. . . . I can’t describe what a feeling it was to sign the contract.”

Oropesa made headlines last July when he jumped a fence at the baseball venue in Buffalo during the World University Games and asked for political asylum. He is one of several Cuban players who have defected over the past few months and one of the latest to join the pro ranks. Many have lived together in Sylmar since their defections.

This, however, will not be the first professional experience for Oropesa. He was drafted by Cincinnati in a special lottery last year but didn’t like the Reds’ offer and instead played for St. Paul in the independent Northern League, where he was 3-1 with a 1.93 earned-run average in four games. He gave up only six hits and struck out 19 batters in 19 innings.

The failure to reach an agreement with the Reds worried Oropesa.

“I was concerned,” Oropesa said. “I would have liked to be playing already, and waiting all that time was difficult. But it worked out for the best. Playing for the Dodgers would be great. This is where I’ve spent most of my time (since defecting).”