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The Cuban Andy Pagés, one of the most promising young figures of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will experience the thrill of competing in the World Series without being able to share the moment with his loved ones: his parents and sister, who remain in Cuba and have not been able to travel due to the political restrictions of the regime.
Pagés, 24, explained to the newspaper that he maintains contact with his family “only a couple of times a week,” when electricity and internet connectivity on the island allow it. “It’s difficult, but we have learned to live like this,” said the player from Pinar del Río, who has not been able to reunite with his loved ones since a brief visit to the island in 2023, after seven years of separation.
The baseball player grew up in Mantua, in the province of Pinar del Río, where his father —a carpenter by trade— made the bats he used to start making a name for himself. At 15, he decided to leave the island in search of a future in professional baseball, a journey that took him to several countries in the Caribbean before signing with the Dodgers in 2018.
Since then, his progress has been steady. In 2025, he signed a stellar season with 27 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a batting average of .272, establishing himself as a key player in the Angels' lineup. That performance was recognized when he received the "Heart & Hustle" award from the Dodgers, presented by the MLB Players Association to players who embody the values of the game both on and off the field.
Pagés also made history in Major League Baseball by becoming only the third player born in Cuba to achieve a season with 25 or more home runs and 80 or more RBIs before turning 25, a milestone previously reached only by Yordan Álvarez and José Canseco. His offensive power had already been demonstrated when he hit several consecutive home runs in July, establishing himself as one of the most consistent bats in the Dodgers lineup.
His case reflects a reality shared by many Cuban athletes who achieve success far from their homeland, yet cannot share their victories with family due to migration restrictions and the political control of the regime. While his peers celebrate alongside their loved ones, Pagés toasts from afar to those who can only see him on a weak television signal or through an unstable internet connection.
With talent, discipline, and an uncommon maturity for his age, Andy Pagés has not only earned the respect of Dodgers fans but also the affection of Cubans who see in him a symbol of perseverance and hope.
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