Ryan Ori of the Peoria Journal-Star profiles Peoria Chiefs' hitting coach Barbaro Garbey, following Cuba's success in the WBC: "The Peoria Chiefs' new hitting coach has a unique perspective on Cuba's baseball fortunes. In 1980, he became the first member of the Cuban national team to defect to America. Garbey was among 125,000 Mariel Boatlift refugees - banished by Fidel Castro's Communist government - allowed into the United States by President Jimmy Carter."

Says Garbey: "[T]he only reason the Cuban guys are not in the major leagues is they keep them in Cuba. If they would let those Cuban guys come and play in the United States, the Cuban team has at least eight or nine guys who would be in the major leagues right now."

We also learn that Garbey's half-brothers are Orlando and Livan Hernandez.