Alexander Guerrero shares how he got from Cuba to Dodgers

los angeles daily news

By JP Hoornstra 

atlallday.com

Alexander Guerrero and Yasiel Puig were both born in Cuba. Both were given multi-year contracts and lots of money to play baseball for the Dodgers.

Otherwise, they seem to be short on similarities. At least on the surface.

Guerrero and Puig were among the many Dodgers who bussed around Los Angeles with the team’s annual community caravan Friday. It was the first visit to Los Angeles for Guerrero, the 28-year-old infielder who signed a four-year, $28 million contract in October.

Unlike Puig, Guerrero easily volunteered details about his journey from Cuba to the United States.

“I thought about leaving for four years,” he said. “It’s a difficult decision to leave your family and your country, but I decided to.”

Along with his brother and two friends, Guerrero successfully sailed to Haiti on a boat last summer — a “very difficult” journey. It was his third attempt to defect.

“I decided my future was going to be here,” he said. “There have been a lot of Cuban stars over the years.”

Guerrero said he didn’t play competitively in Cuba for one year before successfully defecting — not as punishment for his prior attempts to defect, but because he “just decided with his people to take a year off and make a decision about what my future was going to be like.”

Even though he was in line for a large payday as he got settled in the Dominican Republic, Guerrero badly needed competition. A natural shortstop, Guerrero also needed to learn how to play second base, a position he admits he never played in Cuba.

“The movements are all reversed,” he said, “but anyone who plays shortstop can play any position in the infield.”

It didn’t help when Guerrero’s Dominican Winter League season was cut short by a pair of hamstring strains. He played just 12 games all winter, batting .289 (11 for 38). In five weeks of training since, Guerrero said his health has been fine.

Guerrero’s entry into the United States was delayed until January while he awaited approval for a work visa. After reaching Miami two weeks ago, Guerrero went to the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility in Glendale, Ariz., for some early infield work. He’ll head back after this weekend.

Dodgers pitchers and catchers report Feb. 8 and position players are set to report five days later. Guerrero thinks he’ll be ready for full-time major-league work by Opening Day — March 22 in Australia.

“Ultimately, it’s going to be the team’s decision,” he said, “but I’m going to work as hard as I can.”

Baseball isn’t his only priority. Guerrero’s wife, 9-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter are still in Cuba. His brother is in the Dominican Republic and “will be the next person to come over.”

Guerrero said his wife and children will come to the U.S. “in the next few months.”

Before fans get their first look at Guerrero in spring training, the question had to be asked: Is he just as aggressive on a baseball field as Puig?

“No, different,” Guerrero said. “I’m more calm in my game. Puig’s an aggressive guy with a lot of energy. I’m more even keel.”