Miami Kids Play Ball in Havana

The Varona Bulls are from Miami and the Sharks and Tigers are from Havana. Last month, the two teams faced each other in Havana.

“This isn’t a competition. It’s a friendly game,” says a Tigers kid baseball player.

“It was a lot of fun in the field,” says a Varona Bulls baseball player.

“I wanna make new friends,” this is what another child baseball player from the Varona Bulls team says.

“This trip happened through our coach, Dayron Varona, who was a professional player,” says Teresa Hernández, grandmother of Varona Bulls player.

The Varona Bulls are led by former Tampa Bay Ray Dayron Varona, a native of Camagüey, Cuba. He played in the historic game Obama attended in Havana in 2016.

Would you like to play on Cuba’s national team?,” asks a Belly of the Beats reporter in 2016, minutes before the game starts.

“Yes, of course. And to come back to my homeland to play and live here,” says Dayron Varona as he walks through the Latin American Stadium in Havana.

Varona was the first Cuban player to return to Cuba to play after defecting.

“Just because I made the decisions I made doesn’t mean I stopped being Cuban. I’m a Cuban

in the U.S., in Alaska, wherever. I’m Cuban,” says Dayron Varona while talking to the press in 2016.

Now in 2024, Dayron says: “When I came with Tampa to the Latin American Stadium there were more than 55,000 spectators. I said this can’t be possible.”

Baseball was a symbol of the opening between Cuba and the U.S. under Obama.

Then Trump cut ties with Cuba. Still, people from both countries are trying to stay connected.

“I have a baseball academy with more than 50 kids from 6 to 11 years of age. I came here to Havana with two teams,” says Dayron Varona in an interview for Belly of the Beast.

Most of the Bulls are Cuban American.

“Most of the parents are Cuban. So, being here with my family and having my Cuban family see my son play we thought was a great idea,” says Ayleen Monteagudo, mother of Dayron Bulls player.

“My parents wanted me to see Cuba. So, then we just went here,” says a Varona Bulls baseball player.

“My mom is from Colombia. My dad is from Cuba. First time playing in Cuba, but not my first time in Cuba,” says a Varona Bulls baseball player.

“My team and I wanted to see how Cuban kids play,” this is what another child baseball player from the Varona Bulls team says.

“They’re at our same level. And they’re kids just like us,” says a Sharks kid baseball player.

“They told me they felt good, that they would like to play with us again some day,” says another boy from the Sharks team.

Abraham Rodríguez, Tigers Coach says: “This type of event creates links between the two countries, at least when it comes to sports.”

The Varona Bulls brought donations for the Cuban team.

“A pair of shoes that I give a kid means 20 dollars less that the parents need to spend. And it’s a good thing that I can do this,” says Dayron Varona.

“In Cuba, they don't have a lot of stuff, so I want to give them some stuff and then they can

be successful,” says a Varona Bulls baseball player.

“For me, Cuba is where I was born. Although many don’t want to hear this, it’s where I learned to play ball,” says Dayron Varona.

“I think most people want to do this again. No one is leaving and thinking that they won’t return. If we get the opportunity to do it again, I think we will,” says Ayleen Monteagudo.

“I was born in this country. I was born in Cuba. We decided to come on this trip, no matter what anyone could think. It’s a beautiful cause. It’s about kids. This is not about politics, religion or anything like that. It’s a humane thing between children,” says Teresa Hernández, grandmother of Varona Bulls player.