Team USA will take on the Cuban national team at Principal Park in Des Moines Thursday, but the visiting Cubans will be without the talents of pitcher Misael Siverio.
The Miami Herald first reported that with the help of friends, Siverio defected from a West Des Moines hotel late Tuesday night.
Cuban officials declined comment, according to WHO-TV.com.
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Siverio, 24, told the Herald’s Spanish language sister paper he made a tough decision, but did what’s in the best interest of he and his family.
“Leaving is not easy, but this is a decision that I thought a lot about and I took for my future and my family,” Siverio said in the newspaper. “My dream, of course, is to get to the Majors, and will now begin to take steps to achieve it.”
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USA Today says that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — a U.S. Representative from Florida's 27th District — tweeted: "This week, #Cuban defector @ynscspds won @MLB #HRDerby. 2day pitcher Misael Siverio defected hours after arriving in US. Welcome 2 freedom!"
Siverio was not listed when Team USA released an updated roster for Cuba on Wednesday, says the Miami Herald. Team USA CEO Paul Seiler tells The Associated Press that, from Cuba's perspective, Siverio is no longer a member of their delegation.Cuba and the United States renewed their series last year and this is the first game scheduled on American soil in 16 years, WHO reported.
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