MLB Bans Cuban Team From Dominican Academies

As the United States government eases its sanctions against Cuba, Major League Baseball is attempting to build a relationship with Cuban baseball officials.

The commissioner’s office has chosen an unusual way to welcome them to the Dominican Republic for the Caribbean Series: By banning the Cuban team from their Dominican facilities.

With the Caribbean Series beginning Monday, the Cuban team had an off day and was scheduled to practice at the Diamondbacks’ academy. However, according to Diamondbacks vice president of Latin American operations Junior Noboa, on Sunday night the commissioner’s office informed the Diamondbacks that the Cuban team could not practice at their academy or at any major league facility.

Noboa said the Diamondbacks were among the MLB clubs that offered to let any of the five teams use their facility to practice during the Caribbean Series. He said MLB did not provide a reason why the Cuban team was not allowed to use their academy. An MLB spokesman said the league had no comment.

MLB’s decision drew the ire of Cuban baseball officials, who were not pleased that the other four teams from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela were allowed to train at MLB facilities while the Cubans were banned. The team ended up calling an audible on Monday and worked out at the facility operated by Athletes Premier International, which has previously worked with Cuban players who have left the island and trained Dominican amateur prospects who have signed with MLB clubs.

The Cuban team in the Dominican Republic right now is technically Ciego De Avila, which won the Serie Nacional championship last year during the 2014-15 season. However, it’s essentially a hybrid Cuban national team, with several of Cuba’s top players joining the team as reinforcements for the tournament.

Cuba, which won the Caribbean Series last year, plays its first game today against Mexico.