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Negro League baseball Player -- James Robinson

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Edpuzzle video lesson. Make any video your lesson. Take a video and crop it, add your voice or embed questions at any point.

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Black History Month Feature Jackie Robinson The First African American Baseball Player In The MLB

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Edpuzzle video lesson. Make any video your lesson. Take a video and crop it, add your voice or embed questions at any point.

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Mo'ne Davis is the star of the Little League World Series. But odds are, she won't even play baseball in high school. Girls should have more opportunities to take part in the national pastime.

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If you are having trouble viewing any of the videos, or if the graphics are too small, click "View Original" and it will open a new window with that item.

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Choose one of the minority groups that faced, or faces challenges while playing baseball. Explore the links to videos, articles, and infographics to learn more about them. When you are done, you will create a presentation to show what you know!

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Use one of the presentation ideas below or think of your own creative way to share what you learned! Just be sure to check with your teacher to approve your idea.

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Create a poster for a rally that is highlighting a cause or challenge that your selected group faces

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Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.

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Create an Avatar and have him/her speak about his/her experiences in baseball

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Voki | Speaking Characters For Education

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Voki is a fun tool that students can use for homework, classwork or projects. Customize their appearance and what they say, and share with others!

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Create an animated video about the history of your selected group in baseball

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Powtoon | Create Awesome Videos Yourself

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Powtoon gives you everything you need to easily make professional videos and presentations that your clients, colleagues, and friends will love! No design or tech skills are necessary - it's free, easy, and awesome!

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José Fernández's perilous journey out of Cuba changed his life

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José Fernández's perilous journey out of Cuba changed his life

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Decline of African Americans in Baseball Today

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Decline of African Americans in Baseball Today

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Within her piece about MLB's sponsored television series Pitch, set to air on Fox next spring, author Kendra James asserts that "as a black fan, baseball hasn't always loved [her]." A year earlier, Chris Rock referred to black baseball fans as an "endangered species." Both affirmations signify the recent cultural discourse that the African American experience and baseball do not socialize. This assumption, along with claims regarding that baseball is a "sport for the rich" and the rhetoric emphasizing the pace of the game, appear to disenchant many potential black American athletes and spectators.

When we think of color within MLB, or even on the Red Sox roster, the first name that comes to many minds is David Ortiz, but Papi and his peers do not identify as black, and prefer to be identified by their Latin heritage. Coming off of his impressive 29-game hit streak, Jackie Bradley Jr. stands out on this roster for more reasons than just producing exceptional numbers. JBJ, along with teammates Chris Young, David Price and Mookie Betts, represent an uncharacteristic MLB roster that includes four black Americans, the most on a team's active roster in 2016.

After the league celebrated its 13th Jackie Robinson Day in April, USA Today released an updated report tracking the African American demographic portrayed by the 2016 season. Just eight percent of MLB players are African American, well below the national population of roughly 14 percent.

These numbers are jarring, and it's startling that in almost 30 years, the proportion of black American players has dropped by nearly ten percentage points. According to a study released by the Society For American Baseball Research (SABR) in 1986, MLB was 18.3 percent African American. This same study indicated that the percentages of Latin Americans within the league began exponentially increasing at the same time as black American numbers steadily were declining. But does this correlation between the two deviations suggest a causation? In theory, this might be more than a fortuity.

Is Baseball a Sport for the Rich?

When discussing the racial discrepancies that exist across MLB, the immediate response to the predicament is to criticize the system that propels youth baseball players a chance to play.

The current culture is reliant upon how involved a prospective player's parents can be in their child's process. Not only are there a conglomerate of pay-for-play leagues, but there are travel teams that have weekly tournaments, and opportunities for parents to hire the best private coaches for their children.

The system doesn't appear to cover young players unless their parental figures are just as invested emotionally and financially in their child's dream. In JBJ's case, his father drove buses and his mother, a retired state trooper, opened a restaurant fueled by southern homestyle cooking. Additionally, Willie Betts recalled having to drive "[his son] to tournaments two or three weekends a month."

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Baseball in the United States has become similar to a college fraternity. For participation, most Greek organizations charge around $700 per year in dues. The cultish breeding of the game's youngest could possibly be responsible for what some perceive as the entitled and arrogant behavior of Washington National's Bryce Harper, who was paid at nine years old to schedule impromptu performances on multiple youth travel teams.

Contrary to popular belief, half of Boston's black American roster were able to attend schools that provided the young baseball hopefuls with opportunity. Outfielder Young attended Bellaire High school in Houston, Texas --referred to by Texas Monthly as-- "arguably the city's best public school." While Tennessee-born Price is an alumnus of Blackman High School, which is defined as a "pacesetter school," a term that is used to describe the most progressive high schools in the nation.

Not all prospective players are fortunate enough to attend a high school that attracts baseball scouts and coaches, though. In his editorial entitled " Left Out," Pittsburgh Pirates' Outfielder Andrew McCutchen reveled in "the miracle" as to how he was even discovered by AAU coach Jimmy Rutland. The All-Star recalls Rutland taking McCutchen in "as if [I] was another one of his sons." Due to financial difficulties at home for the Floridian, "[Rutland] helped pay for [my] jerseys and living expenses."

Is that why athletes are switching to basketball?

Due to these never-ending expenses, it is rational for African American athletes to veer their sights toward the free throw rather than the long ball. Basketball is a more accessible sport: in urban areas there are more opportunities to engage in a pickup game free of charge. Besides the hoop, players desire only sneakers and a ball. In 2012, a study indicated 6.95 million American kids were playing basketball relative to 5.61 million sticking around on the diamond.

Not only is basketball more convenient and more reasonable for less privileged children, but the sport along with football can provide athletes with full collegiate scholarships. As stated by McCutchen, baseball is a sport "that no matter how good you are, you're not getting a full ride." This is due to the overwhelming profit produced by collegiate basketball and football programs. "Many low-income kids don't have the option of going to college to develop their game and get an education," the Pirates' center fielder said.

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Must Reads

A common modern complaint about our great American pastime is the game's speed. In addition to financial constraints preventing more black Americans from giving the sport a try, resistance has developed because of negative connotations that deem the sport "boring" in comparison to its higher paced counterpart.

In an interview with pop-culture magazine , hip-hop legend, avid baseball fan, and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D explained in his relationship with the sport how this "endangered species" can be rescued: "So when people say baseball is boring, yeah it's boring because you don't have the time to understand, to grasp it. Don't just say it's wack because you don't understand."

Maybe that is the answer for why commissioner Rob Manfred grapples daily with the pace problem. Could this cry that baseball is "boring" be a reflection of the velocity of our contemporary society?

Chuck D considers the evidence that the game is difficult to pick up independently without an outside influence, or in his case, it was his father who provided proper baseball pedagogy. If a young child doesn't have a parental figure infatuated by the game, does that lessen their probability to learn the ins and outs of baseball? Are the rules presented on the court that effortless? Do potential students of the game have limited time to understand the inner workings and its beauty?

This is a reasonable claim to make about basketball's inherent rise and baseball's simultaneous fall, but another justifiable consideration lies in the culture basketball has galvanized for the African American community. The stable relationship between basketball and hip-hop has allowed for the sport to be received as "cool." So, should we actually listen to Bryce Harper and attempt to make baseball "fun again?"

According to Chuck D, a method to ameliorate the situation could be erasing "that line between baseball and hip-hop." The lyricist questions "how baseball can be marketed to a new audience of artists and kids?"

There has been substantial marketing for baseball received from hip-hop cornerstones in the past, but these seem like isolated cases. Jay Z's iconic wearing of a standard 59Fifty Yankee Cap comes to mind, as does Dr. Dre's White Sox hat that was still a bestseller in recent years even with the team's poor performance. Chance the Rapper recently designed a trio of hats for the White Sox as well, and they were well-received and scooped up immediately by fans.

Chuck D recalled that when the Negro leagues were established in the early 40s, baseball was a very social game. Unfortunately (for baseball), it is now basketball that holds that title. The 55-year-old rapper does insist that it is the league that must get off its "high horse," which is encouraged by its current supremacist and frat-like morals: " They're not in the business of trying to recruit a certain category of people for their game unless they can get the best for less."

These elitist values perpetuated by the league are what provided the impetus to the rising myriad of Latin American players.

The Transcontinental Treatment

A correlation does yield to a causation in this case. Alluding to the study collected by SABR, attention shifted to black America's "cheaper" counterparts. Currently, there isn't a formal draft for Latin American baseball players to enter, allowing major league franchises to sign players at ages even younger than they would be able to draft them.

Take Red Sox international signing Anderson Espinoza as an example. The Sox signed him as an international free agent in 2014 when he was just 16 years old, and now 18, he's considered a top-50 or even top-25 prospect, depending on who you ask. Imagine what his signing bonus would have been were he draft-eligible this June instead of available to sign on the less structured international market?

The manipulators in this unrestricted and ambiguous system are the buscones, the scouts who recruit and enroll prospects for their own training facilities. It may appear that the buscones are the opportunity providers that black American baseball players desire, but the truth is, these scouts have been notorious in coercing prospective ball players into "taking performance-enhancing drugs" and have in turn invigorated the steroid era. The living arrangements within these quasi-farm systems are far from lavish, and arguably are violating numerous child labor laws that have been enacted in the United States.

"They're not in the business of trying to recruit a certain category of people for their game unless they can get the best for less."

Baseball has become a living and breathing component of culture in the Caribbean and Latin America, which is severely lacking here in the US. After examining the upbringing of JBJ, Betts, Young, and Price, all four players were raised in the seventeen warmest states -- all of which are located in the southern regions within the country. Black American baseball players seem to be trickling out of the warmer areas where the game can be played more frequently. This closely mirrors the conditions that are present in our transcontinental neighbors. With this being so, what must be done moving forward?

Going Forward

A method to mitigate these embarrassing percentages is for MLB to, as Chuck D said, do a better job of appealing to black youth. This won't happen until the league starts taking away the image of white superiority that has been so prevalent within the sport's history.

It is clear that black Americans need more support from the league, and the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) initiative, established in 1989, was a substantial first step. But, after properly investigating the issue at hand, emerging players deserve a secure mentor rather than the miracle mentioned by McCutchen. These mentorships shouldn't resemble the questionable conditions that are practiced by the buscones, but should provide black Americans with resources that currently are evasive.

According to a separate piece from USA Today, the most African Americans since 1992 were picked in this past draft, and 16 percent of the top projected picks for the 2016 draft could be black Americans. For Manfred's sake, numbers look to be on the upswing, but obviously there is a long way to go.

We must remember that young athletes desire heroes to extol, and for black youths, there are only 69 to look up to in a league with 862 Opening Day players. Not only is this about providing resources where they are a necessity, but this calls for a league-wide cultural revival. If that means hiring Drake to be in a television ad with Curtis Granderson, then MLB has some phone calls to make.

What allows for hope in the meantime is that the protagonist in Pitch will represent someone who lives and breathes the African American experience. Maybe that exposure will eventually allow fans like Chuck D, Chris Rock, and Kendra James to not feel like they are members of an "endangered species" any longer.

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Declining number of black MLB players is a problem

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Within her piece about MLB's sponsored television series Pitch, set to air on Fox next spring, author Kendra James asserts that "as a black fan, baseball hasn't always loved [her]." A year earlier, Chris Rock referred to black baseball fans as an "endangered species."

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How 16 Cuban Baseball Players Made it to the US to play in the MLB

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How 16 Cuban Baseball Players Made it to the US to play in the MLB

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10 First African American Players in Major League Baseball

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10 First African American Players in Major League Baseball

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Some people may write off sports as mere entertainment, but perhaps they should look a little closer. Sports can not only ignite the passions, allegiances and fanaticism of millions, but also help people to overcome racial prejudice and discrimination. Read on for an inside look at ten of the first African-American baseball players to break the color line and play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. These pioneers in one of America's favorite sports withstood abuse and resentment from crowds and teammates alike. Yet they persevered, changing the face of the game and making valuable contributions to the American civil rights movement.

10. Curt Roberts - 1954-1956

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Second baseman Curt Roberts made history on April 13, 1954, when he became the first African-American to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberts first made a name for himself in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs. He also played in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and the Mexican League before joining up with the Pirates. General manager Branch Rickey signed Roberts to the team after facing mounting pressure from the local black community. Roberts was chosen not only for his baseball skills, but also for his calm personality, which helped him cope with the racial slurs and heckling he took.

Roberts' MLB career was destined to be short-lived, however, as his batting average dropped significantly in his second season with the Pirates. As he feared that the mounting racial abuse was affecting Roberts' game, Brooklyn Dodgers' second baseman Jackie Robinson contacted Roberts offering support and encouragement. Sadly, it didn't help, and Roberts was cut from the team in the 1955 season.

MLB.com journalist Tom Singer wrote, "Roberts humanized the ongoing integration of baseball by thrashing the perception that African-Americans had to be superstars to find a place in a big league world of white bench players. He was a flop. Yet the tide of integration continued to roll across the Major League landscape, with healthier expectations."

9. Ernie Banks - 1953-1971
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Ernie Banks began his baseball career in the Negro American League with the Kansas City Monarchs. The Chicago Cubs signed him in 1953, and on September 17 that year he became the first African-American player to compete for the team. Banks flourished in MLB and went on to appear for the Cubs for 19 seasons, playing as shortstop and first baseman. He joined the 500 home run club on May 12, 1970, and by the time his career ended in 1971 he had hit 512 home runs and held the record (at the time) for the most home runs as a shortstop. In 1955, Banks hit five grand slams in a season - a record that remained unbroken for more than three decades.

Banks retired on December 1, 1971 but stayed with the Cubs as a coach. During his career, he earned the nicknames "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine," and he is still one of Chicago's most beloved players. In 1977 Banks received a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 2011 he was honored for his contribution to civil rights. In an interview with website AARP.com, he said, "I tried to get along with people who did not normally associate with blacks - and didn't know anything about blacks. I let them know there's good and bad in every ethnic group."

8. Bob Trice - 1953-1955
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Pitcher Bob Trice debuted for the Philadelphia Athletics (now Oakland Athletics) on September 13, 1953, becoming the first African-American to play for the team. Prior to appearing in MLB, Trice had struggled in MiLB, but he excelled with the International League's Ottawa A's, and his brilliant performance earned him his place with the Athletics. Although his MLB career was short-lived, Trice's work challenging racial intolerance as an early African-American professional baseball pioneer cannot be over-emphasized.

"Black players encountered racial barriers, both on and off the field: teammates refusing to shake hands, fans shouting out insults, whites-only signs and many other painful struggles just to play baseball," said previous entry Ernie Banks. "Today's black athletes and major league players have no idea what we had to endure." Trice ended his career with a 5.80 earned run average (ERA) and a batting average of .288.

7. Willie Mays - 1951-1973
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Willie Mays began his career with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos in 1947. Then in 1950 the New York Giants signed him up to their Class-B affiliate in Trenton, New Jersey. The following year, he had been promoted to Triple-A Minneapolis, and when he was called up to the New York Giants on May 24, 1951, Mays was skeptical about such a sudden rise. Nevertheless, his plane ticket was on its way and his manager was persistent, so there was no getting around it.

Mays struggled in his first 12 times at bat but hit a home run on his thirteenth. From that moment on, it was only a matter of time before he would become a baseball legend. Mays said that whenever people in the crowd heckled him and called him names, he just hit harder. On one occasion the announcer encouraged the crowd to leave him alone because he was killing the opposition.

Mays also played for the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets, and during his career he hit 660 home runs. After his playing days were over, Mays was the Mets' hitting instructor up through 1979, and in 1986 he became the special assistant to the president of the San Francisco Giants. In 1979, he earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

6. Sam "The Jet" Jethroe - 1950-1954
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Sam Jethroe, also known as "The Jet," was a center fielder known for his speed. In 2001 fellow African-American player Don Newcombe described him as "the fastest human being I've ever seen." Jethroe played in the Negro Leagues for several years before being traded to the Boston Braves' in October 1949 for a whopping $150,000. In 1950 he was awarded Rookie of the Year after stealing 35 bases - 18 more than any other MLB player during the same period.

In 1954 Jethroe left MLB and joined the International League. After retiring, he moved to Pennsylvania, where he got a job in a factory and eventually opened a tavern. In 1994, he brought a case against MLB for the pensions he and other black players had been denied. Jethroe argued that they weren't given the chance to play long enough to earn pensions owing to the racial discrimination of the '40s and '50s. Although the case was dismissed, MLB chose to give Negro League veterans - including Jethroe - an annual pension in 1997.

5. Monte Irvin - 1949-1956
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Left fielder Monte Irvin was 30 years old when he finally got his chance to play in MLB. Irvin began his career in 1938 in the Negro Leagues with the Newark Eagles, and he also played for Azules de Veracruz in the Mexican League in 1942. Like other black players of his era, Irvin wished he'd had an opportunity to play in MLB ten years earlier, but racial prejudice delayed his debut until July 8, 1949. "All these players were great players and I said, 'Well, I've got the chance and I'll do the best I can, but I sure wish they'd signed me earlier,'" Irvin explained in an interview. "But we all did the best we could, played well, and most of us tried to set an example for those who came after us."

Irvin played for the New York Giants from 1949 to 1955 and was on the Chicago Cubs team for one season in 1956. He returned to MiLB for one more year before retiring. Although he no longer played baseball professionally, Irvin's career in sports was far from over. He had a job as a scout for the New York Mets between 1967 and 1968 and then went on to work as a public relations expert for Bowie Kuhn, the fifth Commissioner of MLB, from 1968 to 1984.

4. Willard "Home Run" Brown - 1947
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Even though his time in MLB was short-lived, Willard "Home Run" Brown still made a significant contribution to the acceptance of African-American baseball players. Brown was an outfielder known for his sheer power, and according to the Society for American Baseball Research, he "was one of the most feared hitters in the Negro Leagues."

Brown made his MLB debut for the St. Louis Browns on July 19, 1947 - two days after Hank Thompson - and made history as the first African-American player in the American League ever to hit a home run. Sadly, Brown couldn't take the racial abuse he was forced to endure, and he only played 21 MLB games. After leaving the Browns, he enjoyed a prolific season in Puerto Rico, and in 2006 he achieved a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame.

3. Hank Thompson - 1947-1956
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Hank Thompson, pictured above (right), was a left-handed hitter and third baseman known for his exceptionally strong throwing arm. He played in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs before making his MLB debut playing for the St. Louis Browns on July 17, 1947. He was the team's first African-American player, but unfortunately he was released after just over a month. During his time with the Browns, Thompson made MLB history with fellow African-American teammate Willard Brown. On July 20, 1947, the pair became the first two African-American players to appear in the same starting lineup.

In 1948, Thompson returned to the Negro Leagues, playing with the Monarchs. Then in 1949 he broke another color line when he signed for the New York Giants, becoming the first African-American to play in the National and American leagues - and he also became the first African-American player to break the color line with two separate teams. Thompson helped make history in the 1951 World Series as part of the first all African-American outfield in MLB alongside Willie Mays (center) and Monte Irvin (left). The National Baseball Hall of Fame calls Thompson an "integration trailblazer."

2. Larry Doby - 1947-1959
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On July 5, 1947, center fielder Larry Doby became the first African-American to play for the Cleveland Indians. He was also the first black player to go directly from the Negro Leagues to MLB. "I got a lot of resentment from a lot of teammates," Doby said. "But after a period of time they got an opportunity to judge me for who I was and not the color of my skin." He also stated, "I think that's one of the biggest things that happened in baseball, that we were able to integrate and judge for ourselves what kind of character these people had."

Doby was the second African-American baseball player to break the color line and play in MLB. He was a true pioneer who also went on to join the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. However, by 1960 Doby had sustained several debilitating injuries and the White Sox released him. After failing a medical test with the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to a badly injured ankle, Doby went on to become the third American to play in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league when he signed for the Chunichi Dragons in 1962. Then in 1978 he became the manager of the White Sox, making him the second African-American manager in MLB history.

1. Jackie Robinson - 1947-1956
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Jackie Robinson is one of the most famous baseball greats on this list. On April 15, 1947, he played first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the first African-American to smash the MLB color line in the modern era. This moment went down in history and opened the door for many more players to follow in his footsteps.

Robinson was chosen not only because he could play excellent ball, but also because Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, believed he could withstand the inevitable prejudice and racial discrimination he would encounter - both on and off the field. After a three-hour discussion, Rickey questioned Robinson on whether he'd be able deal with the abuse without losing his cool. Robinson replied, "Are you looking for a negro who is afraid to fight back?" To which Rickey philosophically replied, "Robinson, I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back."

Robinson's debut marked the beginning of an exceptional career that saw him rise to the height of baseball legend. His accomplishments include becoming 1947's Rookie of the Year, being picked six times for All-Star Games, and receiving the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949. Perhaps more importantly, he challenged deeply rooted segregation and made a valuable contribution to the civil rights movement. Robinson retired from baseball on January 5, 1957 and landed a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, MLB retired Robinson's number 42 across all MLB teams. Robinson is the first professional athlete to receive such an honor.

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10 First African American Players in Major League Baseball - Sports Management Degree Guide

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Image Source Some people may write off sports as mere entertainment, but perhaps they should look a little closer. Sports can not only ignite the passions, allegiances and fanaticism of millions, but also help people to overcome racial prejudice and discrimination.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With the Tampa Bay Rays playing against Cuba in a spring training game on Tuesday in Havana, various Cuban players in the West Coast's Cactus League shared thoughts on their hopes and aspirations in the major leagues, from excelling at the highest level to adjusting to daily life.

Like L.A. Dodgers pitcher Yaisel Sierra, who hopes to find a new life both on and off the field in a league he says the vast majority of his countrymen dream of one day reaching.

"Since I was very young I always wondered what the major leagues would be like," Sierra said. "It's like a dream to be here and to mix with these great stars I used to hear about."

Sierra, 24, is one of the new breed of Cuban baseball players who have been consistently advancing to the majors in recent years in the hope of making their millions. But they also want to prove that they are good enough ballplayers to compete with anyone.

"The difficult part was leaving my family behind. I have a 6-year-old son in Cuba. That's the hardest thing," Sierra said.

Sierra is one of four Cuban-born players at Dodgers spring camp, alongside catcher Yasmani Grandal, Alex Guerrero and star Yasiel Puig.

"For us, baseball is a culture, a way of life," Sierra said. "We have proven at various levels and tournaments that we can play against the best.

"And the guys who have come here before have also proven this."

The Tampa Bay Rays visit Havana, Cuba, to play the Cuban national team in an exhibition game on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.

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Last season, a record 27 Cuban baseball players played in Major League Baseball.

Historian Peter Bjarkman, an expert on Cuban baseball who will soon publish his book "Cuban Baseball Defectors: The Inside Story," says that at least 25 Cuban players have signed major league contracts worth more than $1 million in the past six years.

"The first thing is we gradually need to acclimatize to the team, to the baseball, to life over here," Sierra said. "In my case, I need to work on my control to ensure that I reach the level of excellence required by the major leagues."

Sierra's L.A. teammate Guerrero said Cuban baseball players have all the tools to compete at almost any position.

"It's an honor for me to play with these compatriots and those who come to Major League Baseball, especially for a team as famous as the Dodgers," Guerrero said.

"Seguro van a venir más. Para mí es un orgullo y una satisfacción demostrar que el béisbol de Cuba tiene alto nivel, por encima de todos los obstáculos que tenemos ... demostrar que hay buenos peloteros. Sólo hay que ayudarnos entre nosotros, " Guerrero said in his native tongue.

Translated: "More players are sure to come over. It gives me great pride and satisfaction to show the high standard of Cuban baseball, in spite of all the obstacles we face ... to show that there are good ballplayers. We just need to help each other."

Guerrero said there is a good relationship among the Cubans playing in the big leagues thanks to the fact that they share the same culture, the same language and similar customs from the same homeland.

New Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Guerrero will work almost exclusively at third base this spring, but Roberts knows Guerrero is also capable of playing shortstop, second base and even in the outfield.

"It has been very difficult to adapt to baseball here," Guerrero conceded. "The game here is very different from in Cuba. On top of that, the language and culture are a struggle and, of course, the standard is higher. This is the best baseball in the world."

Pitching is among the main differences Guerrero has found in MLB compared to Cuba. He said there are more major league pitchers who are able to pitch fast breaking balls.

He also mentioned that the standard of defense and athleticism among many MLB players, including those of Latin American origin, is higher than the average he experienced in the Cuban Serie Nacional, for example.

"The main advice I would give the young players coming over is to train, to give their all, to ignore the obstacles," the 29-year-old Cuban said. "This is difficult, but if you set your mind to it, you'll get there."

According to Miami-based OnCuba magazine, 150 Serie Nacional players left Cuba in 2015, though many of them still have no contract with Major League Baseball organizations.

Guillermo Heredia, a native of Matanzas, Cuba, just signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners in the first week of March.

Unlike Puig, Sierra and Guerrero, who have virtually guaranteed their places on the Dodgers' roster to start the season, Heredia will have to compete at his highest level in spring practices and Cactus League games to earn a spot on the Mariners' Opening Day team.

"This isn't as easy as you might believe in Cuba," Heredia said. "You hear about Yasiel [Puig], Aroldis [Chapman], Jose Contreras and all the other guys who have been successful and you think it will happen for you overnight."

"I have to work hard here because there are so many stars on this team." he added. "But I think I can make it. If they decide I should start in the minors, so be it. I'll carry on working to achieve my dream of playing in the major leagues."

Heredia pointed to Cuban players' speed on the basepaths and defensive skills as some of their top baseball credentials.

He also said he felt that being surrounded by fellow Latinos on the Seattle squad and in particular another Cuban, Leonys Martin, will help him in his aim to conquer the major leagues with the Mariners.

"This won't be easy," said Martin, who joined the ranks of American professional baseball with the Texas Rangers in 2010 and spent almost his entire first two years with minor league affiliates. "There is a lot of talent at this level. You have to be professional 24 hours a day and improve your game at all times or you'll never establish yourself here."

"I've learned a lot here," Martin added. "I had to learn to be professional in the system that's in place here, and that's something that anyone coming over will have to learn. I want to be a great inspiration for all of them."

Relatively few Cuban players arrived before 2000, but among those who did were some big names like Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, Rolando Arrojo, Danys Baez, Jose Hernandez and Ariel Prieto. And before that, it was Jose Canseco, Tony Oliva, Tony Perez and Rafael Palmeiro, among others.

Martin said that despite the fame and fortune that many Cuban ballplayers have found in the United States, they still have a huge task ahead of them that many dream to accomplish.

"For all of us in baseball, our great objective is to one day represent our country in the World Baseball Classic," he said. "Because, although we come to play here, representing your country is another huge thing."

Puig agreed with Martin on the topic of the pride players feel representing Cuba.

"Here we are playing for Cuba every hour of every day," the Dodgers star said. "It would be amazing to play a World Baseball Classic as Cubans in the majors. In the meantime, we need to keep on 'pushing forward and showing that Cubans can play baseball with the best of them."
Click here to read the original Spanish-language version of this story.

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Cuban players are on the rise in MLB, and they dream of playing for country one day

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With the Tampa Bay Rays playing against Cuba in a spring training game on Tuesday in Havana, various Cuban players in the West Coast's Cactus League shared thoughts on their hopes and aspirations in the major leagues, from excelling at the highest level to adjusting to daily life.

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Highlight reel

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