HAVANA - Big-league hurler Jose Ariel Contreras received a hero's welcome in his homeland 11 years after defecting from Cuba, which historically has branded defecting athletes as traitors.
Contreras is the first athlete to take advantage of a new migratory law that makes it easier for defectors to visit their homeland.
Hundreds of onlookers turned out to see and have their picture taken with him on Wednesday at a park in the western city of Pinar del Rio, where he played professionally before leaving Cuba, according to dissident Dagoberto Valdes.
"What impresses me most is the enthusiasm and welcome he was given by his fans, who received him as a hero," Valdes said by phone from Pinar del Rio. "It was a very emotional encounter with the people."
Contreras abandoned the Cuba squad in Monterrey, Mexico, in October 2002, and a year later signed with the New York Yankees. He won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox in 2005, and later played for Colorado and Philadelphia.
Defecting baseball stars have long been considered persona non grata by island authorities, who complain about "theft" of talent groomed by Cuban sports institutions. Their names typically disappear from local state-run media after their departure, although Cuban fans follow their exploits overseas as best they can on the Internet and through word of mouth.
Cuba's new migration law, which took effect on Jan. 14, eliminated the island's longstanding exit visa requirement, among other measures. It also lifted restrictions on defectors' right to return for visits if more than eight years have gone by.
Contreras' visit "awakened great expectations even though he asked for it to be very discreet, because he came to see his ailing mother," Valdes said.
In 10 seasons in the major leagues, Contreras compiled a record of 78 wins and 67 losses with an ERA of 4.55, according to MLB.com.
The Phillies declined the 41-year-old's option in October, and he is a free agent.
