Cuban Defector Speaks Out On Castro Regime

Star pitcher Orlando “Duke” Hernandez said Thursday that people in his native Cuba live in a climate of constant “oppression, repression and fear” under Fidel Castro’s communist regime.

“When I think of the Castro regime, they are not good things,” Hernandez said. “In Cuba there is repression, oppression and fear they might put you in jail. The Cuban people live by a miracle.”

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, he said he had to “withstand humiliations and repudiations” and Cuban authorities were constantly trying to demean him.

Hernandez has not been playing for more than a year. Cuban authorities banned him from competing in sports for life, because he was suspected of being in secret contact with “foreign agents” trying to induce ball players to defect.

Hernandez defected from Cuba last week with catcher Alberto Hernandez - who is not related - and five other people by sailing to the Bahamas. On Wednesday, the group flew to Costa Rica.

“I’m very relieved to be in Costa Rica,” Orlando Hernandez said. “I have full freedom.”

Hernandez wasted no time in trying to establish temporary residency in Costa Rica, which would allow him to negotiate with all major league baseball teams as a free agent. He went to the immigration office Thursday morning.

Rene Guim, a spokesman for Hernandez’s agent, Joe Cubas, said the immigration process would take from one to three weeks.

“The moment that Joe can have in his hand a piece of paper from the Costa Rican government saying that he has a temporary visa … we can go to the baseball commissioners office,” Guim said.

Hernandez is a half-brother of World Series MVP Livan Hernandez. Guim said 24 teams have made inquiries, but no offers had been made.

“They are strictly calling to find out how long it will take for the process and when we will be having a formal workout,” Guim said. “They are going to start working out tomorrow morning to get ready.”