Two Cubans playing in Caribbean Series defect

Jorge L. Ortiz | USA TODAY

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Two players from the Cuban team competing in the Caribbean Series have defected.

Heriberto Suarez, national director of baseball in Cuba, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that shortstop Dainer Moreira and 19-year-old pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez had abandoned the team on Tuesday.

"They decided to leave the hotel," Suarez said. "We met today and we're going to continue forward. We remain united and confident."

The defections happened Tuesday night after the Cuban team returned to its hotel following its second loss in as many games in the tournament. Suarez did not provide details, but said the players' departures are especially painful because Cuba is in the middle of a competition.

"We are very disappointed," he said. "But this will serve as a platform for us to carry on stronger and more unified. We will continue giving our best and will return to Cuba together."

The defections are the latest blow to Cuban baseball, which has suffered a talent drain in recent years as All-Star-quality players like Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig, Aroldis Chapman and Yoenis Cespedes have escaped from the Communist island to pursue their fortune in Major League Baseball.

Neither Moreira nor Gutierrez is considered to be in that level.

It's not clear whether the players were acting together. Moreira started and went 2-for-4 in Tuesday afternoon's 6-1 loss to the Dominican Republic, which dropped Cuba to 0-2 in the tournament. Gutierrez did not play.

Moreira, 30, is the starting shortstop for Matanzas but has limited experience at the international level and may be a longshot to make the majors. One longtime Cuban observer compared him with Aledmys Diaz, the infielder the St. Louis Cardinals signed for $8 million over four years in March. Diaz, 24, batted .273 in 47 games between Class A and AA last season.

Gutierrez, 19, is regarded as a better prospect even though he's not a hard thrower. The 6-1 right-hander won rookie of the year honors in the 2013-14 Cuban league season, going 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA both as a starter and reliever for Pinar del Rio. Gutierrez then looked sharp pitching out of the bullpen as Cuba swept to the championship in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico last November.

A scout in attendance at the Caribbean Games said Gutierrez is a major league prospect.

Five Cuban basketball players defected during a tournament in Puerto Rico in 2012, but no baseball players had left their team in this island, which is a U.S. commonwealth.

To gain free agency for MLB purposes, the players would have to establish residency in a third country. However, the process of becoming eligible to sign with a major league team has become less onerous since President Obama announced in December that the U.S. and Cuba would normalize relations

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