Kevin Baxter . kbaxter@herald.com. Published Tuesday, May
22, 2001 in the Miami Herald
Rolando Viera, a 27-year-old pitcher with Cuba's Industriales, has defected
and will pursue a professional baseball career in the United States, New
York-based agent Joe Kehoskie said Monday.
Kehoskie refused to disclose Viera's whereabouts and would not say whether
the left-hander would seek asylum in the United States or another country.
Viera, who throws a 91-mph fastball, a forkball, slider, curveball and
changeup, was suspended from Cuban baseball last summer because officials
believed he was preparing to defect. Over his final two seasons, Viera was 18-10
with a 3.12 ERA.
Viera, who was married in November, flew out of Cuba earlier this month with
a valid visa.
"He came out alone,'' Kehoskie said. "Right now we're working on
getting him in shape. He hasn't pitched in a while.''
If Viera seeks political asylum in the United States, he will be subject to
next month's amateur draft and will be able to negotiate only with the
organization that drafts him. If he seeks residency in another country, he would
become a free agent and could sign with the highest bidder.
Copyright 2001 Miami Herald | 