Former baseball star Reutilio Hurtado, celebrated as one of Cuba's finest center fielders, has been granted a Green Card in the United States, marking another significant milestone in his new life away from his native Santiago de Cuba.
The news was revealed by journalist Yasel Porto, who also provided updates on Hurtado's current endeavors in the United States. "Hurtado has been living in Houston since crossing the border two years ago. He currently works at a children's academy and plays in the city's independent league," Porto wrote on his Facebook page.
Porto also recalled that Hurtado was a key player in both iterations of the renowned "Santiagueran Steamroller," a term used to describe the almost unbeatable teams managed by the late coach Higinio Vélez.
Achievements and Career Highlights
Wearing the number 52, Hurtado, the brother of former professional boxer Diosbelys Hurtado, participated in 21 National Series, boasting a batting line of .289 average/.400 OBP/.890 OPS, according to official Cuban baseball statistics.
Other notable statistics include over 1,000 runs scored (1,059) and runs batted in (1,083), as well as 252 home runs, making him the fourth-highest home run hitter from Santiago, behind only Orestes Kindelán, Antonio Pacheco, and Gabriel Pierre.
In an exclusive interview with CiberCuba in 2021, Hurtado shared that "the directors of that time never separated me from my brother. I'm talking about the then-president of the INDER, Humberto Rodríguez, the national commissioner Carlos Rodríguez, the technical director Benito Camacho (previously Miguel Valdés), and Higinio Vélez, the mentor of Santiago de Cuba, may he rest in peace."
Hurtado recounted that Vélez once told him, "Taking you to the Cuba team would mean waking up with your brother in Miami. Everyone mentioned me as a possible defector."
During the interview, Hurtado reflected, "I was denied the chance to participate in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Maracaibo '98, the World Championship in Italy the same year, the Pan American Games in Winnipeg '99, the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the World Championship in Taipei '01, and other major events, including the Athens 2004 Olympics and the first World Baseball Classic in 2006."
"Those were years when my performance was far superior to other center fielders across the island. Of course, I felt very bad, so much so that I sometimes considered quitting baseball, but thanks to my family's support, I didn't," he added.
Hurtado's biography includes six national titles and two Copa Revolución championships. However, it lacks Olympic and World Championship medals, despite his evident talent to have been part of several Cuban national teams.
Reutilio Hurtado's Journey to the United States
Here are some key questions and answers regarding Reutilio Hurtado’s career and his recent move to the United States.
Why did Reutilio Hurtado leave Cuba?
Hurtado left Cuba seeking better opportunities and to escape the restrictions imposed on him by Cuban sports authorities, who often labeled him as a potential defector.
What is Reutilio Hurtado doing in the United States?
Hurtado currently resides in Houston, where he works at a children's academy and participates in the city's independent baseball league.
What are some of Reutilio Hurtado's career achievements?
Hurtado's career highlights include a batting line of .289 average/.400 OBP/.890 OPS, over 1,000 runs scored and batted in, and 252 home runs. He is also a six-time national champion and two-time Copa Revolución winner.