By Will Weissert. .c The Associated Press
GUATEMALA CITY, 8 (AP) - One of the top pitchers in Cuban baseball has fled the island and announced Wednesday he plans to hold a tryout for major league scouts here next week.
Adrian ``El Duquecito'' Hernandez, according to agent Michelle Aguirre, has turned down offers from seven big league clubs. Aguirre said one was for $14 million over four years.
The 25-year-old Hernandez is no relation to New York Yankees pitcher Orlando ``El Duque'' Hernandez, but a similar knee-jerking style earned him the nickname ``Little Duque'' on Havana Industriales, also the team Orlando Hernandez played for in Cuba.
He was a part of the Cuban all-star team that played the Baltimore Orioles a year ago and was one of the leading pitchers for the Industriales, with a 2.67 ERA. He also was one of the stars of last year's Cuban championship series, which the Industriales lost to Santiago.
Hernandez stole a woman's passport and fled Cuba in women's clothes last year, spending some time in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica before coming to Guatemala, Aguirre said.
Aguirre called Hernandez's legal status ``a very complicated matter,'' but said the 6-foot-5-inch right-hander was ``completely legal to play in the United States.''
Aguirre said she expected more than 20 teams to send representatives to the tryout, scheduled for Tuesday at one of Guatemala City's two professional-size diamonds.
``We received permission from the office to do this because we know there is a lot of interest out there,'' she said, referring to the commissioner's office in New York. ``We want every team to have a fair chance to sign him.''
She said she expects Hernandez to sign a contract ``within 10 days of the workout.''
``I have some teams in mind but I am happy to play for any team that is willing to take a look at me,'' Hernandez said, clutching a huge, unlit cigar. ``I have baseball dreams and I am ready to fulfill them.''
Aguirre said the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and San Diego Padres had made offers to Hernandez.
AP-NY-03-08-00 1939EST
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. |