The best Cuban players in MLB history

Just over a year ago, Major League Baseball reached a long-overdue agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation to provide Cuban players a safe, legal path to play the game in the United States. Per Baseball Almanac, 30 natives of Cuba were on a major league roster in 2019, and that number is likely to swell as the years go on. But before the recent influx of Cuban defectors, there were occasional occurrences of great Cuban players making their way to America over the last several decades. Here are the five best Cuban baseball players of all time.

5. Aroldis Chapman

Since taking over the closer’s role in Cincinnati in 2012, Aroldis Chapman has become one of baseball’s most dominant relief arms.

"The Cuban Missile" has 273 saves in his 10-year career, all but one of which was earned over his last eight seasons. Chapman, a six-time All-Star, helped the Cubs win their first World Series title in over a century in 2016, recording four saves and some crucial outs over that postseason run.

4. Bert Campaneris

Speed merchant Bert Campaneris came over from Cuba in 1964 and would make his mark the following year by stealing a league-leading 51 bases. He would pace the AL in stolen bases five more times over his 19-year career, earning six All-Star nods in the process.

"Campy" was an integral part of the Athletics teams that won three straight titles between 1972 and 1974, and retired with 649 swiped bags, good for 14th all-time.

3. Minnie Minoso

White Sox legend Minnie Minoso was hard to keep off base during his 17-year stint in the majors.

He had a good eye at the plate (.298 career average), speed to leg out infield singles (led the AL in steals in 1952 and 1953), and could crowd the plate with the best of them. Minoso led the majors in hit-by-pitches nine times, including every year from 1956 to 1961.

"The Cuban Comet" was a nine-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove recipient.

2. Tony Oliva

Had he played a few more seasons, Tony Oliva might have become the first MLB player of Cuban descent to make the Baseball Hall of Fame. Regardless, he is one of the best hitters the Minnesota Twins have ever had.

Oliva broke into the majors at age 25 and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1964 as he led all of baseball in hits (217) and the AL in batting average (.323). He would pace the Junior Circuit in hits four more times between 1965 and 1970, and won two additional batting titles in 1965 and 1971. Oliva, twice a runner-up for AL MVP, was an eight-time All-Star.

1. Tony Perez

Reds great Tony Perez is the only Cuban MLB player to be enshrined in Cooperstown, so he’s a solid choice for No. 1 on this list.

Part of Cincinnati’s "Big Red Machine" in the 1970s, Perez averaged 22 homers and 96 RBI per 162-game season over his 23-year career. "Big Dog" won two World Series titles and was nominated to seven All-Star games.

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