Cuba's Top Umpire Defects to the US
 

The Associated Press: Renowned Cuban umpire defects to United States

Renowned Cuban umpire defects to United States
(AP) – 4 days ago

MIAMI — A top Cuban umpire has defected to the United States.

The Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald reports that Nelson Diaz arrived in Miami on Sunday with his wife and two daughters.

Diaz worked in the Olympics and the 2006 World Baseball Classic. His 26-year career supposedly ended after he was picked to work the 2009 WBC in Japan but was told by Cuban baseball officials he couldn't go because they didn't trust him.

Diaz said one of the first things he did in the U.S. was place flowers at the tomb of his mother, who died in Miami before he could see her.

In 1999, Diaz called the exhibition game between the Cubans and Orioles in Baltimore. He helped restore order after a Cuban umpire body-slammed an anti-Castro demonstrator.

Diaz also participated in World Cups and the Pan American Games, among many other international tournaments.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

It will be interesting to see how his career develops if he chooses to pursue a job as a professional umpire. School? Rookie ball? Or maybe straight to AA.

The cba between the minor league umpire union and minor league baseball doesn't allow a jump straight to AA.

School first, then PBUC if he's good enough, then rookie ball if he's good enough. And you also have to think about his age and how long it will take him to move up.

If he came out of PBUC as the number one umpire, and depending on the number of releases, he could start in short season A. If he were to continue to be rated the number one umpire in each league as he moves up, and there is an average number of end of season and middle season releases, he could reach AA mid way through his second year. Unlikely, but possible.