Former pitcher and current scout, Jose Rijo has rescued six Cuban baseball players from deportation back to Cuba, where they would certainly have faced imprisonment or worse. I guess all one can say is thanks, for going out of his way to help when he didn't have to.
"They had left to look for a better life," Rijo said before yesterday's exhibition opener between the Nationals and New York Mets. "They came over on a boat and were caught by the police. They were very scared. When they learned they were going to be sent back to Cuba, they almost started crying. They said they would rather be shot in the Dominican. They did not want to go back to receive the punishment they were going to get."Posted by dan at March 5, 2005 04:02 PM