Yordan Alvarez highlights the Year of the Cuban in MLB
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Lorenzo Delgado, Contributor
- July 17, 2026
MLB All-Star Game featured a record seven Cuban-born players
PHILADELPHIA – The 96th MLB All-Star Game celebrated America’s 250th birthday with plenty Latino flair Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, and most of that of sazón was Cuban. During the American League batting practice, Cubans Miguel Vargas of the White Sox and Randy Arozarena of the Mariners huddled outside the batting cage with Venezuelan Willson Contreras and Curaçao native Ceddanne Rafaela of the Red Sox.
The four Latino All-Stars were joking, laughing and getting loose before playing in front of 43,916 fans at The Bank when Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez walked up the dugout steps. Alvarez, who is leading the AL in home runs and RBIs while sitting second in batting average, turned around and waved at his family in the front row of the dugout.
Thereafter, the four-time All-Star pulled out his phone to take a selfie with the whole family. The Midsummer Classic featured a record seven Cuban-born players and two Cuban Americans – the Reds’ Sal Stewart and the Rays’ Nick Martinez. The Dodgers’ Andy Pages, who was born in Havana, was selected to his first All-Star Game. The two-time World Series champion was eager to ask questions and learn, looking for ways to elevate an already impressive season.
“One is happy to have other players of your own country there,” Pages said. “More than anything, I think you have that time, that opportunity to be able to talk to them a little more. And to be able to learn a little more.”
Aroldis Chapman sees Cuban quality
Vargas, Stewart, Martinez, and the Braves’ Raisel Iglesias were first-time All-Stars. Arozarena made his third All-Star appearance. The Rays’ Yandy Diaz made his second All-Star appearance. Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman made his ninth All-Star appearance. Chapman is currently the longest active Cuban in the MLB. The Cuban missile currently ranks 10th on the all-time saves list with 386. He is four saves away from tying Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley with 390.
Chapman, 38, made his MLB debut on August 31, 2010. Now in his 17th season, Chapman continues to witness the growth of Cuban players across the league.
“You can see the quality of the Cuban players who are in the league right now,” Chapman said. “Luckily this year we’ve been able to show and showcase the quality of the Cuban players who are in the big leagues. You can see here at the All-Star Game we have a bunch of them.”
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The previous record for Cuban-born players in an All-Star Game was six, an accomplishment that had been achieved just twice in the event’s 96-game history. The 1968 All-Star Game at the Houston Astrodome featured Cubans Joe Azcue, Bert Campaneris, Leo Cardenas, Luis Tiant and Hall of Famers Tony Oliva and Tony Perez.
The 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park also featured six Cubans – Arozarena, Diaz, Yennier Cano, Adolis Garcia, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Jorge Soler.
“I think it’s generational,” Arozarena said. “You know it comes every year. You see that the Cuban talent has always been there. … It starts progressing, and you’re going to see more and more take off. The talent has always been there. It’s always been in Cuba, and you’re going to see more of us representing here.”
An opportunity to inspire
The Cubans left their mark in the American League’s 4-0 victory over the NL. Alvarez, who is on pace to challenge for the Triple Crown, got the first hit of the Midsummer Classic. Vargas added a solo home run to the second deck in left field to cap the scoring.
Vargas had the only extra-base hit of the game. Arozarena recorded the final hit of the game. Furthermore, Diaz recorded a hit. Martinez and Iglesias each pitched a scoreless inning. Chapman struck out a batter. Pages robbed his former teammate Vargas of a hit with a terrific defensive play. Stewart made an appearance at third base.
“I was one of those guys a couple years ago who was watching (Aroldis) Chapman win the (2016) World Series, and watching Yordan Alvarez winning a World Series,” Vargas said. “For me to come here and be one of them (Cubans) it means a lot to me.
“I know how important an impact we have for all the youngest Cuban guys out there. And you know we want to represent them at the highest level. I’m very proud to be that.”
Lorenzo Delgado
Contributor
Lorenzo Delgado earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree from the University of Houston. He is currently the Director of Baseball Content at Our Esquina, where he has spent the past four years. Previously, Delgado was a contributing baseball writer for Call to the Pen on the FanSided Network. He also hosts the Astros-focused podcast Full Seam Ahead, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
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