Cuban Defector Pursues Dream

BY KEVIN BAXTER
Miami Herald

On a map, the distance between Cuba and South Florida doesn't seem all that far. But it took Yolexandry Reina 30 months to cover it -- including unplanned detours through Canada and Costa Rica and more than a little trouble with Canadian immigration officials.

But when he pulled on a blue Marlins jersey for the first time earlier this month, it all seemed worth it.

''Finally, I'm here,'' he said Tuesday after allowing a run in two innings in a minor-league game in his second appearance as a professional. ``Finally, I get to see a spring training camp.''

Reina defected off a Cuban national junior team in Edmonton, Alberta, in August 2001, then resurfaced months later in Costa Rica, where his agent hoped to negotiate a lucrative free agent contract. But no major-league team would touch him until the agent cleared up Reina's immigration status -- was he claiming Cuban, Canadian or Costa Rican citizenship? -- so the agent quickly abandoned the pitcher in San Jose.

Reina, a 21-year-old right-hander, eventually found his way back to Canada, only to be arrested for illegal entry, setting off an 18-month legal adventure that didn't end until the Miami firm of Zumpano, Patricios and Winker, in concert with the Marlins, got him approved for a U.S. visa in January.

''I could never have realized my dream of playing professional baseball in Cuba,'' Reina said.

Reina, who admits to being about 15 pounds overweight, will participate in an extended spring training camp next month before being assigned to the Marlins' Single A team in either Jamestown, N.Y., or Jupiter.

''We're going to take our time with him,'' said Marc DelPiano, the Marlins' director of player development. ``He's a good-looking kid. He's got possibilities.''


PITCHING ISSUES
With opening day less than two weeks away, manager Jack McKeon's pitching staff remains unsettled. So left-handed reliever Tommy Phelps will start tonight's exhibition against the St. Louis Cardinals to give the team a chance to evaluate him against big-league hitters. Dontrelle Willis, who normally would have started, will pitch in a minor-league game at the team's Jupiter spring training complex.


BREAKS OF THE GAME
Hee Seop Choi broke bats on consecutive pitches in the third inning of Tuesday's game, the first time he can remember seeing that happen. On the second pitch, the barrel of the bat landed between first and second while the ball rocketed far enough into the right-field corner to give Choi a triple.

''Sometimes the bats break because the pitch moves so much when it gets to the plate. And sometimes I just hit the ball hard,'' Choi said.


VALDEZ SHINES
McKeon has been impressed with the play of rookie infielder Wilson Valdez, who has made several spectacular fielding plays while hitting .300 in 30 at-bats.

''He's got a chance to be an outstanding prospect,'' McKeon said. ``He's an outstanding defensive player right now. He's got great tools.''

But Valdez, 25, isn't likely to displace shortstop Alex Gonzalez, so the Marlins are likely to send him back to Triple A Albuquerque for more seasoning.