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The Cuban pitcher Cristian Rego, 17 years old and from Havana, officially signed this Monday with the Philadelphia Phillies for a bonus of $300,000, becoming the 17th player born in Cuba to finalize a deal during the 2025-2026 international signing period in Major League Baseball, reported journalist Francys Romero.
Rego currently belongs to the Sánchez Academy in the Dominican Republic, a common destination for Cuban prospects who emigrate in search of better opportunities before entering the minor league system.
The young pitcher joined the Phillies with impressive youth credentials: in 2024, he was part of the Cuba U-18 team and recorded an outstanding performance of 13.1 innings pitched without allowing a single run.
The Philadelphia scouts project him as a starter, supported by a fastball that ranges between 94 and 96 miles per hour and a repertoire of secondary pitches that includes a slider, sinker, changeup, and curveball.
The signing of Rego occurs just five days after Naikys Piedra, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher from Matanzas, became the 16th Cuban to sign during this period by agreeing with the Chicago Cubs on April 2.
The pace of signings continues unabated. This Tuesday, it was also reported that shortstop Luis Almeida, 18 years old and hailing from Matanzas, will sign in the coming days with the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to journalist Francys Romero, Almeida "has great glove skills around the infield and can also hit for contact, showing good instincts for the game."
The exodus of Cuban baseball players stems from structural factors that the regime has been unable —or unwilling— to address: low salaries in the Serie Nacional, poor training conditions, and the lack of real economic incentives for athletes on the island.
Among the Cubans who have signed for the 2025-2026 cycle with the highest bonuses are Rubén Gallego (Arizona Diamondbacks, 1.8 million dollars), Joniel Hernández and Jordan Pérez (both with the San Diego Padres, 1.4 million each), and Jaims Martínez (Chicago Cubs, 900,000 dollars).
Cuba ranks as the fourth country with the most signings in the current international period, behind the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico. In the previous cycle 2024-2025, 41 players born on the island signed contracts with Major League organizations, a figure that illustrates the magnitude of the talent drain that Cuban baseball is experiencing.
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