VALDES Raul

General
CLUB HISTORY
He began his career in Cuba, playing with Vaqueros de La Habana until 2001. In 2003 he began playing in the Dominican Republic, and in 2005 joined MLB side the Chicago Cubs and was assigned to the minor leagues. After he was released by the Cubs, he had a stint in the Canadian-American Association independent league in 2006. In 2007 he joined the New York Mets organisation, with whom he made his MLB debut in 2010. He remained in MLB until 2014, having also played for the St Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, pitching in a total of 103 games. In 2015 he joined Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball [NPB] team Chunichi Dragons, and after three years in the NPB moved to the Mexican Baseball League with Saraperos de Saltillo in 2018, and Toros de Tijuana in 2019. He has played in the Dominican Winter League with Gigantes del Cibao, Leones del Escogido and, in each season since 2009/10, with Toros del Este. (milb.com, 29 May 2021; baseball-reference.com, 18 Dec 2020)

FROM CUBA TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
He was born in Havana, Cuba. In 2003, he fled Cuba and arrived in the Dominican Republic in a small boat after five days at sea, following five previous failed attempts. "Every time I thought about abandoning Cuba and failed, I was already thinking about the next attempt two weeks later. I was just dreaming of my own future anywhere else." He began playing baseball in the Dominican Republic in 2003 and received Dominican citizenship in 2008. In 2021 he was approached by Cuban officials to represent the country at the Americas Olympic qualifying event, but declined. "For me, this is something big, because when I arrived in the Dominican Republic, they opened the doors and treated me so well. The Cuban officials contacted me first, but I had to wait for the Dominican Republic to get in touch with me so I could give Cuba an answer. It is hugely satisfying to be able to help the Dominican Republic qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo." (elnuevodiario.com.do, 29 Apr 2021; pelotacubanausa.com, 25 Jan 2019; mundodeportivord.com, 10 Jul 2020)