Path for Cuban baseball players beset by risks

For Cuban baseball players, getting into Major League Baseball can be a dangerous process that involves paying smugglers to shuttle them into different countries before entering the United States. Despite the risks, there are more than three times as many Cubans in the majors than there were three decades ago.

Entering the U.S. straight from Cuba

The U.S. has a “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy that generally allows for Cubans to stay if they reach U.S. soil (if caught at sea, they are returned to Cuba). They can pursue residency a year later. This option subjects players to baseball’s amateur draft, cutting the chances of the player landing a big contract.

Entering the U.S. via a third country

To avoid the amateur draft, Cuban players often establish residency in a third country — a process that can take months.

Many Caribbean countries are notorious for easily obtainable paperwork. Cuban players often flee to Mexico, Haiti or the Dominican Republic.

Once established in the country, the player then submits documents to the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control. Baseball then can declare the player a free agent, allowing him to negotiate directly with all 30 teams.

NUMBER OF CUBAN-BORN PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
By season

Sources: Tribune reporting, baseball-almanac.com