HECHAVARRIA REFLECTS
Marlins shortstop recalls harrowing trip from Cuba
In his fourth season in the majors, Adeiny Hechavarria has emerged as perhaps the top defensive shortstop in the National League and a much-improved hitter as well. He’s one of the foundation pieces for the Miami Marlins, who would love to sign him to a long-term extension worth tens of millions of dollars.
Yet when Hechavarria looks back at what he endured to leave Cuba six years ago, he’s not certain he would do it again, so frightening was the ordeal.
Sharing his story in a Spanish-language interview with USA TODAY Sports, Hechavarria said he feared for his life while escaping Cuba through Mexico in 2009 alongside fellow players Leslie Anderson and Rubi Silva, as well as nine other defectors.
Without going into much detail, Hechavarria spoke about how the players made a deal with human traffickers to get them out of Cuba on a boat in exchange for a cut of their signing bonuses. He wouldn’t specify what percentage he paid but said the plan wasn’t hatched with much aforethought.
Hechavarria had no idea how long the group would be at sea after leaving from the coastal city of Santiago de Cuba, his hometown in the southeastern part of the island, and he became terrified when he could not see land for hours.
“I wanted to fulfill my dream but didn’t know what I was going to encounter,” Hechavarria said.
“If I had known what I was going to have to go through, I might not have come. A lot of difficult things took place along the way. In the end nothing bad happened to us, but we were afraid because of some of the things that go on in Mexico, with people getting killed.”
With his superb glovework and athleticism, He- chavarria had made a name for himself in international junior tournaments and played three seasons in Cuba’s top league, beginning at age 17.
But he yearned for a better life after growing up in poverty and often going hungry while being raised mostly by his father, who did security work at a warehouse, after his parents split up.
When smugglers aware of his talent proposed to help him escape the communist regime so he could pursue his major league ambitions, Hechavarria blindly jumped at the chance.
“I was deceived,” said Hechavarria, 26. “The people who brought me out — I won’t mention their names — told me, ‘When you get there, you’ll get $15 million right away.’ You’re a poor kid and don’t know any better, so you believe it. Plus, you want to realize your dream.”
Hechavarria said the smugglers treated him well, and while they skipped over details of the difficulties he would face, they were not far off in gauging his value. With the help of an intermediary, Hechavarria established residency in Mexico and within a year — in April 2010 — he signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hechavarria was one of 18 Cubans on opening-day rosters, and he might soon ascend to the level of his more renowned compatriots, especially if his enhanced offense keeps up. He batted .227 with a .565 OPS (on-base-plus slugging) in his first season as a Marlin, boosted those numbers to .276 and .664 last year and is currently at .308 with a .759 OPS.
And his glove is nearly golden. Last season, Hechavarria was a finalist for the league’s top fielding award at his position, won by the Atlanta Braves’ Andrelton Simmons the last two years.
“He’s probably the best right now,” says Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner. “He has a good arm. He makes routine plays. He makes spectacular plays. … That dude can play, straight up.’’