Baseball is the national sport of Cuba – the sport which most ordinary Cubans are passionate about. Cuban students returning from the United States and American sailors introduced baseball to Cubans in the 1860s. The sport spread quickly across the island nation, and by the 1870s, baseball was the most popular sport in Cuba.
In 1878, the first professional baseball league was founded, the Cuban League. The league’s success helped make Cuba a major force in international baseball. Cuban players were some of the best in the world, and they often played in the major leagues in the United States.
Professional sports were abolished after the Cuban Revolution in 1959. However, baseball remained popular, and the Cuban National Series, an amateur league, was founded in 1961. The Serie Nacional emerged as the top level of Cuban baseball.
The Cuban government runs a number of youth baseball programs, including Little League Baseball and the National Baseball Academy. These programs provide young players with instruction from experienced coaches and access to top-quality facilities.
In addition to the government programs, there are a number of private youth baseball academies in Cuba. These academies offer more specialized training for young players who are serious about pursuing a career in baseball.
The most talented youth baseball players in Cuba are selected to play for the national team, which competes in international tournaments, such as the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics.
Cuban youth baseball is a well-organized and highly competitive system. It has produced some of the best baseball players in the world, including Yasiel Puig, Aroldis Chapman, and José Abreu.