By: Francys Romero
On Saturday, August 30th, at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, California, Yoslan Herrera, a Pinar del Rio pitcher, 33, won a baseball game in the major leagues.
Herrera pitched 0.2 innings in a win over Oakland Anaheim 2 x 0. Yoslan suffered around about 7 long years in exile before returning to climb a mound in MLB and win a game. His story is a story about the recovery of hope and strength in sport, and on how not to be overcome by adversity.
Yoslan worked in Cuba for 18 wins and 7 losses and ERA of 3.72 in 3 seasons; he was a bullpen pitcher of Pinar del Rio, his home province team. In addition to integrating the ranks of his team, Herrera participated in two Super Leagues and was called several times to the national pre-selection.
In 2006 he left the island and after a landing a little rough on American soil, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Herrera for a minor league contract. He began to overcome defects in AA Altoona Curve and according to his pitching coach, Brad Holdren, Yoslan never had it easy: “This guy has managed to come out some adversities in his life. He is a Cuban defector. He came to the United States after two years away from baseball and returned this past year, and has worked very hard. It is a very nice guy and I know he’s encouraged by this opportunity. Whether or not he will feel the pressure I have hope he will try to grow to the occasion. He relies on his two-seam and four-seam fastballs. He knows how to place the ball in the corners.”
Herrera was the prospect five of the Pirates franchise in 2006, according to BaseballAmerica. After various shocks he debuted in the majors in 2008 and in five starts he had an ERA of 9.82, with a game won and one lost. The Pinar del Rio was not long in the majors. The following year he was not promoted to the big leagues, despite exhibiting 2.12 and 2.98 between AA Altoona and AAA Indianapolis.
Already in 2010, after a slight internship for the Minnesota Twins in AAA, he returned home after being fired and accompanied by the occasional injury. Where was Yoslan Herrera between 2010 and 2014? In his home in Tampa, where he remained part of 2011 and throughout 2012.
After some time off, Herrera went to try his luck in the Nicaraguan baseball with the Chinandega Tigers in November 2011 Anyone would think that his future as a pitcher was finished. He suffered hellish days of losses, as reported by the journalist Edward Tijerina, “(…) when the Boer sluggers tore the right arm of the Cuban Yoslan Herrera. That was chaotic for the Westerners. Every Indian who entered the batter’s box grew as a threat and worked as a demolition company. Omar Cisneros sought a corner to hide in, but could not find it. Lightning and thunder shook the stadium. ”
Time went on and in 2013 he signed with Algodoneros de Guasave in the Mexican Pacific League. There, he racked up 17 saves as the leader of the team and second in the league. Something changed in him. He had returned to his natural position in the game since it started with Pinar del Rio: the bullpen. He returned to his comfort zone. He was signed by the Anaheim Angels in December 2013 and invited to spring training. It was from this point that everything changed for Yoslan in AAA Salt Lake Bees. He stopped giving away walks. He began to strike out batters and create his own outs. He was sent in May to the majors. He was lowered in just 7 days after 6 innings pitched. Then something stopped being routine. He exhibited averages of 8.46 strikeouts and 2.88 walks per nine innings with a 2.52 earned run average in 50 innings.
They were months of agony, travel, hotels, cities changes. Until one day, on August26, he received a call from his coach to pick up his bags and go to California with the big club. A team that happens to be the best team in wins and losses in baseball right now with 83-53. Yoslan climbed back on a MLB mound and after a long journey of disappointments, again won a game at the highest level of baseball.
His return trip made true the overcoming of defeat as part of the game. Yoslan learned from setbacks and ghosts of the past. Obviously, he regained his place in the game, a place that had foolishly stolen time.
