Pitcher Rigoberto Arrebato: What I want is to live in peace, in my house, with my people, to see my daughter grow up

I still remember those Outs in Home of mine, a section that I maintained for 25 years in the National Sports News, in which I played with the surname of our interviewee today, the left-hander from the capital Rigoberto Arrebato.

Hahaha. In fact Julita, since the youth you used the Arrebato to qualify your reports in the games in which I pitched. Nice times those, by the way.

What are you doing right now, where do you live?

I have lived in Tampa, Florida, since 2013. I am a resident and live with my wife, Nayla, and our eight-year-old daughter, Kayla, and together we are a happy family. Really, I can't complain.

In what year did you decide to emigrate, why?

I was preparing with Industriales for the start of the National Series in 2009. I was only 22 years old, remember that I debuted very young, at just 18. The idea of leaving the country had never crossed my mind.

So?

Then, in the middle of a training session, another player whose name I withhold came to see me, so that I could accompany him in his attempt to come and try his luck in the best baseball in the world.

I accepted on the condition that my cousin, also a left-hander from the capital, Frank del Valle Arrebato, would come with us. He had integrated CUBA teams in lower categories, 13-14 years old, cadets, youth, along with stars such as Aroldis Chapman, Alennys Echevarría, Candelita Iglesias and Dayán Viciedo.

And how did they materialize the exit?

We came by boat, we left through Camagüey. We spent nine months in the United States until we went to the Dominican Republic, becoming free agents and thus being able to be recruited by Major League scouts. I was absorbed by the New York Yankees and my cousin by the Chicago Cubs.

Both he and I performed in strong class A and in my case I was promoted to double A with the Trenton Thunder, between 2013 and 2015; In one of them we were champions. I don't forget that there were several Cubans on that team, shortstop Yadil Mujica, third baseman Rodnier Mustelier and outfielders Adonis García and Gerald Sánchez. There was a lot of camaraderie between us, but when I least thought about it, I got injured, I didn't play for a year and they released me.

Did you decide to abandon your career there?

No. I played in independent leagues and from there I went to Mexico, where I was part of the pitching staff as a reinforcement for the Diablos Rojos de Hermosillo. I played that season and came back because my wife was pregnant and I decided to quit baseball which would have kept me away from her and the girl.

Let's return to Cuba and your time in baseball. Are you debuting with Industriales?

Yes, at 17 years old, already entering at 18, having just concluded my time as a youth player. For any boy my age, it was the greatest thing to be able to wear blue flannel; Now I know that's not the case because young people have their minds set elsewhere hahaha… you know!

And if it is true that at that time the Industriales were the main option (and playing for CUBA too, of course; other times I repeat) I liked the Metros better. I liked the red squad, it attracted me much more. We had fun, we were almost all very young. We were enthusiastic, combative, happy, you understand? Playing with Industriales was a commitment, it was that “you had to win.”

When we take a look at the numbers, the result is not at all flattering: in 90 innings of work, two wins and eight losses and a clean average, not bad by the way, of 2.90.

I don't want to justify myself. I was at an age and I was on a team that didn't demand much, but I can assure you that many times they left the game with an advantage and those who came behind couldn't hold on. One of the guys I left on base came in, which meant the advantage or the victory, and right there the game went away.

Compare your time with this one. The total disaster of our baseball that we didn't even win the Central or Pan American Games.

I am telling you the truth? I don't see a ball! Neither the one here nor the one there. I'm not interested in the ball, you can write it there: I'm not interested in knowing anything about anything! Those who know me will believe that it is a lie but what I want is to live in peace, in my house, with my people, see my daughter grow up, give her everything she needs and be happy.

But I imagine that you are happy about the Cubans' successful passage through the Big Ten.

Of course; I love that they put Cuba's name high, that they demonstrate the quality of Cuban baseball. That is not discussed.

Are you the result of the high performance pyramid or do you come from the massive?

I started when I was 12 years old on a field in San Miguel del Padrón, where I was born, but one day my glove broke and when I told my coach, Julio if I remember correctly, he told me to go home and not return until to fix it. Look at the way you treat a child.

My father didn't like that and he moved me to Guanabacoa, where I was recruited for the EIDE “Mártires de Barbados”. I will never forget that Chú, a very renowned coach at that stage, gave me the uniform and received me at the Villa de Pepe Antonio. There I was under the aegis of José Luis Bernal and Guillermo Carbonero and at the EIDE I trained with Luis Suárez and Lázaro Bordón. I am very grateful to everyone for what I learned in boxing.

What was your repertoire?

Straight, curve, slider and fork; In the United States I learned to throw the change with Orlando Chinea who, as you know, is an experienced coach from Villa Clara.

From your entire career, could you tell me an anecdote that you won't forget?

If you knew that the most relevant and unforgettable one has to do with you.

Don't tell me which one?

In the 2003-2004 National Youth Championship when we were champions by defeating Granma, you interviewed me and in your report you said: “Arrebato snatched the crown.” I had pitched eight innings with 11 strikeouts. That victory that Bárbaro Puente closed with two more strike outs was very important for me. That game was fabulous, one of the best of my life and I always link it to you.