The former Cuban baseball player Kendrys Morales, one of the brightest figures to emerge from the island's baseball scene in recent decades, broke his silence about one of the most painful moments of his career: his departure from the Cuban team during the 2003 Olympic qualifying tournament in Panama.
In an interview with the Dominican influencer Destino Tolk, Morales provided details of what he claims was a premeditated maneuver to expose him.
According to his account, the team management assigned him as a roommate to the catcher Roger Machado, who was then the backup catcher for the national team. This was unusual, as they had never shared a room before.
From the beginning, he noticed something strange. Roger was constantly trying to convince him to leave the team and stay out of the country.
According to Morales, the other person insisted in a suspicious manner, even telling him phrases like, "They're calling me to tell you to leave."
Although he was initially reluctant, the pressure became so great that he eventually agreed to talk. "Alright, how do we do this?" he asked Machado in a conspiratorial tone.
Not even ten minutes passed when he was called by the National Commissioner of Baseball in Cuba for an emergency meeting.
During that meeting, they recounted the entire conversation with his partner in detail, which confirmed his suspicions that he had been betrayed.
"They repeated everything we had talked about," Morales recalled bitterly.
In the tournament, he drove in the team's first run in the opening game - which was later suspended due to rain - and played just two more games.
The decision to remove him was implemented immediately, and it was officially stated that Morales had returned to the Island "for personal reasons."
However, behind that ambiguous formula lay a case of political betrayal that cost him his career in his country.
Morales's version has been publicly supported by other players.
Capital pitcher Yadel Martí confirmed what happened in an interview last year with the media Swing Completo.
"Kendrys Morales was reported," Martí stated.
And although Martí acknowledged Machado as a good athlete in sports, he was decisive in pointing out that "he spent his life pushing everyone forward."
The scandal marked a turning point in Morales' career.
At the beginning of 2004, he was released from the Industriales team during the National Series. Barred and sidelined by Cuban sports authorities, he decided to leave the country at just 20 years old.
After 13 failed attempts to escape, he finally made it to the United States, where he wrote a completely different story in the Major Leagues.
As a professional baseball player in MLB, Morales signed for $3 million with the Anaheim Angels.
His major league career spanned 13 seasons, during which he donned the uniforms of teams such as the Mariners, Twins, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics, and Yankees.
He achieved his breakthrough in 2015 when he won the World Series with Kansas City, the team with which he also received the Edgar Martínez Award for the best designated hitter in the American League that same year.
He officially retired in 2020 with 213 home runs, 740 RBIs, and a lifetime batting average of .265.
Now, at 42 years old, he is dedicated to raising pigeons and claims that he has no connection to the sport.
The other side of this story is Roger Machado, who, after his career as a catcher, went on to manage the Ciego de Ávila team and led the Cuba national team on several occasions.
Under his leadership, the Avileño Tigers won three national championships, and the national team secured titles such as the Interports of Rotterdam tournament.
However, his career as a manager came to an end in 2019, when he was relieved of his position in Ciego de Ávila due to "changes in management".
In 2023, according to reports from Pelota Cubana, he emigrated to the United States with his family thanks to the humanitarian parole program.
Kendrys Morales' revelation reopens a dark chapter in the history of Cuban baseball, where political decisions and mechanisms of ideological control have shaped the fate of great talents for decades.
In this case, the rise and fall of a promise within the Island contrasts with the brilliant international career she could have forged, despite the stigma and betrayal she faced at the beginning of her journey.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kendrys Morales Controversy and His Departure from Team Cuba
What was the reason behind Kendrys Morales' departure from the Cuba team?
Kendrys Morales was reported in the Cuba team during the pre-Olympic tournament in 2003 in Panama. According to Morales, he was betrayed by his roommate, Roger Machado, who convinced him to leave the team, leading to an emergency meeting with the National Baseball Commissioner of Cuba where the report was confirmed.
What impact did the betrayal have on Kendrys Morales' career?
The betrayal had a significant impact on Kendrys Morales' career in Cuba, as he was dropped from the Industriales team in 2004 and was banned by sports authorities. He decided to leave the country and eventually built a successful career in MLB, where he signed with the Anaheim Angels and played for 13 seasons, achieving victory in the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
Who is Roger Machado and what has been his career trajectory following the incident with Morales?
Roger Machado was the catcher for the Cuba team who shared a room with Kendrys Morales during the 2003 Olympic qualifying tournament and was involved in his denunciation. After his career as a catcher, Machado became the manager of the Ciego de Ávila team and led the Cuba team several times, achieving championships. However, his coaching career ended in 2019, and in 2023 he emigrated to the United States.
What does this episode reveal about political control in Cuban baseball?
The episode of Kendrys Morales reveals the mechanisms of political and ideological control that have influenced the fate of great talents in Cuban baseball. Political decisions and denunciations have impacted players who have expressed interest in leaving the state system, as seen in the case of Morales, who was targeted in a maneuver to be expelled from the Cuba team.
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