Football may be king in America, but baseball has an opportunity to become as globally inclusive as soccer or basketball. The way the U.S.' diplomatic relationship with Cuba is steadily improving, defectors from the island nation could one day soon play for their homeland's national team.
That could even happen as soon as the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
"Everything is on the table," Heriberto Suárez, the commissioner of the state-run Cuban baseball league, said of Cuban-born major leaguers possibly playing for Cuba in next year's WBC.
Obviously, that answer is extremely vague, and President Barack Obama's sheer presence in Cuba is painful for many who risked their lives and left their families to leave their home, or who descend from someone who made those sacrifices. But if Cuban baseball players are going to continue to try and leave their country, there can at least be a safe, legal way to do so that also benefits both nations.
Not only could Cuba field a starting lineup with major-league caliber players, the lineup would be littered with All Stars, Gold Glovers and Silver Sluggers. The level of Cuban-born talent in the U.S. is also decimating Cuba's baseball league and its owner-operator, the Cuban government. Fewer stars taking the field has led to lower attendance and less excitement.
Victor Mesa, a retired Cuban baseball player who won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, said that many Cubans just want to be able to watch their baseball heroes come home without issue. He also said that it could beneficial for the Cuban government.
''They could go work there, they would give us work permits, the money can be brought back to Cuba - that is what we want, for our baseball players to be able to play there,'' Mesa said.
MLB has entertained the idea of including international players in its amateur draft, which is currently made up exclusively of U.S.-born players, unlike the NBA or NHL. Players from other nations are treated as free agents and can demand as much money as they can negotiate. The hardest part is getting other nations on board, but MLB at least has working relations with the parts of the world where their international players come from, except Cuba.
The WBC is perfect for international players to introduce themselves to the world (see: Yu Darvish). Latin America has given MLB some its best and most exciting baseball players, but Cuba has been restricted in a huge way. All told, Cuba still has a starting lineup that can contend with anyone.
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Jose Abreu
2B: Adeiny Hechavarria
3B: Yunel Escobar
SS: Jose Iglesias
LF: Yoenis Cespedes
CF: Rusney Castillo
RF: Yasiel Puig
DH: Kendrys Morales
Bench: Yoan Moncada, Yasmany Tomas, Alexei Ramirez, Brayan Pena, Jorge Soler
SP: Jose Fernandez
CL: Aroldis Chapman
Now imagine how many Puigs, Abreus or Fernandezes have not been able to find a way to America and just need some exposure.
