Yakyu Cosmopolitan@yakyucosmo
In the wake of news that the SoftBank Hawks are struggling to contact Livan Moinelo, who has yet to return to Japan, fans are getting increasingly worried that the reigning Pacific League MVP could defect from Cuba 🇨🇺 in pursuit of an MLB opportunity.
That scenario still appears unlikely. Moinelo signed with SoftBank as an amateur in 2017 and is now registered as a domestic Japanese player after reaching eight years of service time.
He shares a close bond with Kenta Hagiwara, SoftBank’s longtime Latin American scout. In 2024, Moinelo’s mother said, “My son will never betray Kenta or Kenta’s team. I guarantee it.”
In 2023, fellow countryman Yariel Rodriguez, who was the Chunichi Dragons setup man at the time, defected from Cuba while the team was in Miami for the World Baseball Classic semifinals. He was forced to sit out for a year, with the understanding from MLB that Rodriguez was still under contract with an NPB team, before he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yomiuri Giants closer Raidel Martinez has also reportedly been unable to book a flight. Both pitchers seemingly went to their home country following Cuba’s exit from the WBC in Puerto Rico.
Cuba is currently experiencing a jet fuel shortage and electrical blackouts stemming from an energy crisis and US sanctions.
A few other Cuban players on NPB teams, including those who are in the minors and are highly unlikely to defect for financial reasons, are also not back in Japan yet (or there are no public reports of it).
Ariel Martinez of the Nipponham Fighters is the only high-profile Cuban to return and report back to their NPB team thus far.
