PHILADELPHIA, PA — Aroldis Chapman was the fitting and final touch on an historic accomplishment for Cuban-born baseball players Tuesday night in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
In the bottom of the ninth inning as Chapman appeared out of the visiting bullpen to help secure the AL with a 4-0 win over the NL, the Red Sox 38-year-old flamethrowing closer became the seventh Cuban-born All-Star to make an appearance on the diamond of Citizens Bank Park—the most-ever in a Midsummer Classic.
HISTORY: 7 Cuban-born All-Stars appear in 96th Midsummer Classic in Philly
- Dodgers OF Andy Pages (Havana, Cuba)
- Astros DH Yordan Álvarez (Las Tunas, Cuba)
- Braves RHP Raisel Iglesias (Isla de la Juventud, Cuba)
- Mariners OF Randy Arozarena (Havana, Cuba)
- Rays DH Yandy Díaz (Sagua la Grande, Cuba)
- White Sox 3B Miguel Vargas (Havana, Cuba)
- Red Sox LHP Aroldis Chapman (Holguin, Cuba)
History was made by the Cuban All-Stars Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park in the 96th Midsummer Classic – Image Credit: Latino Sports
Before the 2026 ASG in Philadelphia, the record for Cubans was six with the feat coming in the 1968 ASG—Joe Azcue, Bert Campaneris, Leo Cárdenas, Tony Oliva, Tony Pérez and Luis Tiant—information courtesy of MLB. The amount was matched in the 2023 ASG by Randy Arozarena, Yandy Díaz, Yennier Canó, Adolis García, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jorge Soler.
“Seven Cuban-born players in this game that’s on record, happy and proud to be part of this group,” Chapman told Latino Sports through an interpreter during ASG postgame availability. “That means a lot for us and also talks about the season that we, the quality ones, are having. So hopefully next year, we get to break the record even more.”
Chapman joined fellow closer Rasiel Iglesias as the only Cuban-born pitchers to participate in the game, however, Rays starter Nick Martinez, is of Cuban heritage, making for an additional tie.
“It’s very special to represent the Cuban American community,” Martinez said of Cuban representation in this year’s Midsummer Classic. “You know, baseball is a huge sport in Cuba. There are a lot of Cubans represented here in the All-Star Game, so I’m just very proud to be able to be one of those guys representing the Cuban American community.”
Miguel Vargas hit the only ball that left the yard in Tuesday’s All-Star Game—launching an eighth inning 433-foot shot into the second deck of left field.
“To do this in front of my family was incredible because they actually were the ones that did a lot of stuff in getting me to this position,” Vargas said. “For them to give me the opportunity to bring me to this beautiful country and give me the opportunity to follow my dreams, and make a lot of money,”
Randy Arozarena (1-2 with a single) and Andy Pages (0-2 and robbed for a hit by Blue Jays Ernie Clement on a Derek Jeter like highlight) also spoke to Latino Sports about the record-number of Cuban-born players in the All-Star Game.
“It means a lot, that’s a huge accomplishment,” Arozarena noted through an interpreter with Chapman and Álvarez’s ASG lockers stationed next to his.
“You know, like seven or eight Cubans here. All the sacrifices everybody made. Just getting out of the island and then being able to play in the biggest stage of baseball, it definitely is very important to us.”
Randy Arozarena talked to Latino Sports in Philadelphia about the importance of representing Cuba and his Mexican heritage on the biggest stage of the sport – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
For Pages, he went further into detail on the impact he believes this accomplishment will have on the next generation:
“I’m really excited for the group. It’s an honor to represent the country, but also it’s one of those things that pushes all the kids back home to keep trying to reach for their goals. Keep reaching for their dreams by being able to see what we’re doing out here and knowing that they can do it too.”
Andy Pages believes there are more Cuban-born players already making their way to the Show with the next generation following his and other Cubans ongoing MLB careers from afar – Image Credit: Latino Sports
This was a special moment for Cuba to see all of their talent on one field.
On the other hand, it makes us wonder what would happen if they all were able to play together in a World Baseball Classic.
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