The MLB is about ready to go to Cuba for the first time in 16 years. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, Chief baseball officer Joe Torre, and special advisor to the executive director, MLBPA, Dave Winfield lead the group of baseball players in the tour which will include children's clinics and charity events.
The players headed on the tour includes Cuban-born Jose Abreu, Brayan Pena, Yasiel Puig and Alexei Ramirez. Clayton Kershaw, Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz and Jon Jay also join the. This goodwill tour is an incredible opportunity for the players, and the league itself. It allows them the opportunity to enlighten and encourage children that would otherwise not have that opportunity.
The MLB will also provide Friends of Carita Cubana with a $200,000 grant. They are a US based, non-governmental provider of humanitarian, social and emergency services. A piece on the MLB site described the organization.
"Caritas Cubana focuses on assisting Cuba's most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly, children, single mothers, people with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to conducting programs for these populations, Caritas Cubaa distributes medicines and provides emergency relief as needed."
The organization is also included as one of their stops during this Goodwill tour.
I like the idea of taking the game of baseball to other places. The MLB going to Cuba is huge. It's been 16 years since the last time since the Baltimore Orioles played against the Cuban National team in an exhibition game. Baseball is huge in Cuba. I think it's smart to make this trip to Cuba now. It opens up new ventures for the MLB and brings a new perspective to the game for those in Cuba.
--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804
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