ES / EN
- July 5, 2025 -
No Result
View All Result
OnCubaNews
  • World
  • Cuba
  • Cuba-USA
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Infographic
  • Culture
    • Billboard
  • Sports
  • Styles / Trends
  • Media
  • Special
  • Cuban Flavors
  • World
  • Cuba
  • Cuba-USA
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Infographic
  • Culture
    • Billboard
  • Sports
  • Styles / Trends
  • Media
  • Special
  • Cuban Flavors
OnCubaNews
ES / EN
Home Sports Baseball

Aroldis Chapman, the only Cuban in the teams of the best of the MLB decade

The southpaw from Holguín stayed with one of the two reliever posts in the first group of the MLB decade. The Cuban surpassed by a vote star Kenley Jansen, closer of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

by
  • OnCuba Staff
    OnCuba Staff,
  • OnCuba editorial staff
December 21, 2019
in Baseball
1
Aroldis Chapman has completed a decade of luxury as a MLB closer: 273 rescues, 883 and six All-Star Games. Photo: Yahoo.

Aroldis Chapman has completed a decade of luxury as a MLB closer: 273 rescues, 883 and six All-Star Games. Photo: Yahoo.

After an entertaining and unexpected survey, MLB announced its two dream teams of the decade that has just ended, based on the vote of 73 specialists who chose the best by positions and formed a pitching staff with five starters and a couple of relievers.

The closer of the New York Yankees, Aroldis Chapman, was the only Cuban selected in the teams, which also include six Dominicans, two Venezuelans and a Puerto Rican.

The Holguin player, Reliever of the Year in 2019, entered the first squad next to the portentous Craig Kimbrel, only one vote ahead of Kenley Jansen, from Curacao, who stayed for the second squad with Wade Davis, another of the very prominent relievers of the decade.

These stars ruled the decade.

Full all-decade breakdown: https://t.co/vk5vQ7oxUk pic.twitter.com/zG4EynSJSz

— MLB (@MLB) December 19, 2019

The selection of Kimbrel in the first team was a sure thing, considering that the fast right-handed ballplayer finished these last ten years as a leader in rescues (346) and effectiveness (2.08) among all the relievers of the MLB with more than 500 innings.

Kimbrel won the Rookie of the Year award in 2011, played in seven All-Star Games, saved more than 40 games in four different seasons and in 2013 exceeded the 50-rescue barrier.

Related Posts

Cuban Raisel Iglesias has been a fundamental piece for the Atlanta bullpen. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson).

Raisel Iglesias, first Cuban to qualify for MLB postseason

September 11, 2023
Cuba showcased the talent of its players in their first foray into the Little League World Series. Photo: Tom E. Puskar/AP.

Little League, for baseball’s global expansion

August 25, 2023
Miguel Vargas began the season with the Dodgers in the Major Leagues. Photo: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports.

Strike Three: How did some Cubans make it to MLB in 2023?

April 9, 2023
Juan Reynaldo Pérez, new president of the Cuban Baseball Federation. Photo: Ernesto Mastrascusa/EFE.

Cuba to demand millionaire compensation for Yariel Rodríguez’s breach of contract in Japan

March 30, 2023

In all this time he wore the shirts of the Atlanta Braves―in which he debuted―, the San Diego Padres, the Boston Red Sox (he won the 2018 World Series) and the Chicago Cubs.

Chapman, World Series champion in 2016 with the Cubs, is the second of least effectiveness (2.23) among all eligible closers, and third in strikeouts (883) and rescues (273) since debuting in the MLB in 2010.

In these last two sections the Cuban had Jansen (first in relievers with 903 and second in saved with 301) ahead of him, which could tip the balance in favor of the Dodgers’ right-handed ballplayer.

However, voters rewarded Chapman, who pitched six years for a losing team like Cincinnati. He also faced two prolonged periods off the fields in 2014 and 2016, first for a ball pitch to the head during spring training, and then for a 30-game suspension because of incidents of domestic violence.

Los relevos “largos” de Aroldis Chapman

Another player with Cuban roots was also rewarded by the specialists. We’re talking about third baseman Nolan Arenado, who was enrolled in the second team, behind Dominican Adrian Beltré in the ballot count.

Arenado has won the Golden Glove in each of the seven seasons he has played in the MLB, and has been the top homer in the National League in three different seasons. However, for those who decided, the record of Beltré, who retired in 2018 after reaching the 3,000 hits mark, weighed more.

In addition to Chapman, almost no Cuban could fight for a place in these teams, although some would defend the candidacy of José Abreu in first base. He has been the most consistent batter of the island in recent times, but his numbers hardly compete with those of Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto, who were selected in the position.

Cabrera now has a spell of bad luck because of several injuries and the unavoidable passage of time, but at the beginning of the decade he was a real scourge for rivals. The Venezuelan twice won the MVP of the American League and won the Triple Crown in 2012, something that nobody had achieved in 45 years.

Votto, meanwhile, won the MVP of the Old Circuit in 2010, and won seven times the OBP title, something that in a decade was only achieved by Roger Hornsby (in the 1920s) and Ted Williams (in the 1940s), both in the Hall of Fame.

From the list of 32 players selected, the role of Latinos, who took ten places, including the entire infield of the main team, is striking.

The Dominican Republic demonstrated its power, with the inclusion of veterans Beltré, Nelson Cruz, José Bautista, David Ortiz and Robinson Canó, as well as the emerging star Francisco Lindor, who if he continues on the rise could also perfectly well be in the dream teams of the next decade.

First team

Catcher: Buster Posey; 1b: Miguel Cabrera; 2b: José Altuve; 3b: Adrián Beltré; ss: Francisco Lindor; outfielder: Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Andrew McCutchen; designated: Nelson Cruz; openers: Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Chris Sale; relievers: Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman.

Second team

Catcher: Yadier Molina; 1b: Joey Votto; 2b: Robinson Canó; 3b: Nolan Arenado; ss: Troy Tulowitzki; infielders: Giancarlo Stanton, Bryce Harper and José Bautista; designated: David Ortiz; openers: Madison Bumgarner, Jacob de Grom, David Price, Stephen Strasburg and Corey Kluber; relievers: Kenley Jansen and Wade Davis.

  • OnCuba Staff
    OnCuba Staff,
  • OnCuba editorial staff
Tags: Cuban baseballMajor League Baseball (MLB)
Previous Post

Five factors for appointment of new Cuban prime minister

Next Post

Giant African snail already affecting 56 Cuban municipalities

OnCuba Staff

OnCuba Staff

OnCuba Staff

OnCuba Staff

Next Post
The giant African snail has rapidly spread throughout Cuba. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez / Archive.

Giant African snail already affecting 56 Cuban municipalities

Manuel Marrero, former Cuban minister of tourism and appointed as the island’s Prime Minister on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Photo: Prensa Latina / Archive.

Manuel Marrero appointed Prime Minister of Cuba

Ration book of Cuba products, known as “ration book.” Photo: @SashaEats / Twitter.

Cuba to study withdrawing subsidized food to residents abroad

Comments 1

  1. David Charles Adams says:
    4 years ago

    What about Jose Delfin Fernandez. He should have made the team!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

The conversation here is moderated according to OnCuba News discussion guidelines. Please read the Comment Policy before joining the discussion.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Read

  • Flags of Cuba and the United States, seen in perspective in Havana. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

    Trump reinstates hard-line Cuba embargo as Havana condemns US measure as “criminal”

    17 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 4
  • CIA documents revealing attempts to assassinate Fidel and Raúl Castro declassified

    48 shares
    Share 19 Tweet 12
  • The Enchanted Shrimp of the Cuban Dance

    3057 shares
    Share 1223 Tweet 764
  • A sanctuary for jazz in Cuba: César López’s dream

    8 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • A visit to what we were

    8 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2

Most Commented

  • Photo: Kaloian.

    Private sector and tourism in Cuba. Why not?

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • About us
  • Work with OnCuba
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Moderation policy for comments
  • Contact us
  • Advertisement offers

OnCuba and the OnCuba logo are registered® trademarks of Fuego Enterprises, Inc., its subsidiaries or divisions.
OnCuba © by Fuego Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • World
  • Cuba
  • Cuba-USA
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Infographic
  • Culture
    • Billboard
  • Sports
  • Styles / Trends
  • Media
  • Special
  • Cuban Flavors

OnCuba and the OnCuba logo are registered® trademarks of Fuego Enterprises, Inc., its subsidiaries or divisions.
OnCuba © by Fuego Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}