The Dominican comedian Aquiles Correa made a strong statement this Tuesday regarding the debate on the 2026 World Baseball Classic: if he were in the Major Leagues, he would not play for Cuba, because someone who had to escape the country cannot endorse the regime that forced them to leave. Correa made these remarks in a video published by Los Pichy Boys, the Cuban humor duo exiled in Miami, formed by Alejandro González and Maikel Rodríguez.
Los Pichy Boys shared the video with praise and stated that it was incredible for a Dominican to understand what is happening in Cuba better than many Cubans. They also pointed out that those who defend and justify artists and athletes, whom they believe continue to rehabilitate the regime, should be ashamed.
The team's animator Chosen in the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic (LIDOM) outright rejected the argument that "baseball does not mix with politics." "In a dictatorship, everything is politics. Because the dictatorship governs your life and politics governs your life. Everything is politics. When you try to separate politics from something, you are making a mistake," he stated.
Correa also pointed out the regime's propagandistic use of sports achievements: “Every athlete who succeeds, thanks to their talent, becomes a parrot for the revolution. And those who lose, well, they just didn't have the right conditions.” He extended his criticism to Cuban artists in exile who travel to the island: “It's like Cuban artists who go to Cuba while living here. It's crazy. I don't see any logic in it.”
The Dominican also made a distinction between nation and system: “One thing is the country, unfortunately... The country is one and the system is another. We cannot confuse them. But the system is the one in charge.” And regarding those who do not understand this argument, he was direct: “There are Cubans who need it explained to them with modeling clay”.
The announcement comes amid ongoing disputes regarding the Cuban roster for the VI World Baseball Classic 2026. Cuba is fielding a team of 30 players, including 10 associated with MLB, among them Yoan Moncada of the Los Angeles Angels and Yariel Rodríguez. However, players like Andy Pagés of the Dodgers, Andy Ibáñez, and Daysbel Hernández declined to participate.
Additionally, eight officials from the Cuban Baseball Federation, including its president, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, were denied visas by the United States.
Cuba made its tournament debut with a 3-1 victory over Panama, featuring a home run by Moncada, a result the regime quickly seized for media purposes.
The Pichy Boys have a long history of anti-Castro activism linked to baseball. In 2024, they paused their relationship with the Miami Marlins after claiming that they were prevented from protesting against the regime at the stadium, an incident also involving Yordenis Ugás, who broke with the Marlins by stating that “the dictatorship humiliated us.” In March 2023, the duo reported that Díaz-Canel ordered to prioritize support for Team Cuba in the Classic over the internal crisis in the country.
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