Dayron Varona was once a promising prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays system. Today, we caught up with the talented outfielder. Here’s what he had to say.
Dayron Varona was about to become the starting centerfielder for the Cuban National team when he decided to defect in 2013. The talented outfielder signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 and got as high as Durham (AAA) before he was released in 2017 by the ball club.
But this isn’t where they story or ends or even what it’s even about. Varona has the distinction of being the first defector to grace the field of a Cuban ballpark with and MLB.
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The native of Camagüey, Cuba led off and played rightfield the day the Rays and the Cuban National Team played an exhibition on March 22, 2016.
Although Varona went 0-2 the Rays managed to defeat Cuba 4-1 on that day, the young Cuban’s participation opened up a door
for Cuban players and could lead to an opening for a unified national team in the near future.
Dayron Varona, who is 32 years old, seems to have a career that is winding down, but one thing that is for sure is that he has his place in Cuban baseball history. In 11 professional seasons of which seven were in played in Cuba, he hit .283 with 74 home runs and 399 runs batted in.
How did you feel in your first turn at bat in Havana’s Latinoamericana against team Cuba?
It was a beautiful experience. I never felt any pressure; I was more overcome by the emotion of the moment than any other thing.
During my first at I wanted to hit the ball as far as I could but that didn’t happen. I’m just happy to be the first defector to come back after the triumph of the revolution. It gives me great pride to know that my name will always be etched in Cuban sports history.
What did Frank Camilo Morejon, the catcher for Cuba that day tell during your first at-bat?
That he was happy to see me and that, hopefully, things would start to open up very soon.
Did the umpire say anything to you before the first pitch?
He said that the first pitch was going to the Hall of Fame and to swing for the fences if I wanted to.
Do you still follow the Cuban National Series?
Yes! I most definitely do, probably more now than when I lived in Cuba. Pelota Cubana, a page dedicated to Cuban baseball keeps me up to date on the happenings in the Serie Nacional. I also follow the games via YouTube. I’m a loyal follower of my Camagüey Toros, but my grandest memory is when I won a title with the Villa Clara Sugar Framers as a reinforcement piece in 2013.
What is your grandest memory of your time spent in Tampa?
I have two. One of them, of course, was that memorable day in Havana, the other was the day I signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. I sat down and thought long and hard about all the talented players that were not able to sign, it gives me great pride to have been able to sign and make it to where I have made.