Eduardo Paret
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Paret Pérez (born October 23, 1972 in Santa Clara
) is a Cuba
n baseball
player. He is a shortstop
for Villa Clara of the Cuban National Series
, and for the Cuban national baseball team
.
Paret was the starting shortstop on the Cuban teams that won gold medals at the 1996
and 2004 Summer Olympics
and second place at the 2006 World Baseball Classic
. He was named most valuable player
of the 2005 World Cup of Baseball
after going 12 for 19 with 8 stolen bases in the tournament.
In July 1997, Paret and his Villa Clara teammates Osmani García and Angel López spoke with Cuban defector Rolando Arrojo
by telephone. As a result, they were banned from Cuban baseball for "maintaining contact with baseball traitors." The ban has since been lifted.
On July 28, 2006, ESPN
.com reported that Paret and Yulieski Gourriel
had defected from Cuba and into Colombia.
. Days later, Gourriel denied the report.
Santa Clara, Cuba
Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.- History :Santa Clara was founded by 175 people on July 15th, 1689...
) is a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He is a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for Villa Clara of the Cuban National Series
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
, and for the Cuban national baseball team
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
.
Paret was the starting shortstop on the Cuban teams that won gold medals at the 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
and 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and second place at the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
. He was named most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the 2005 World Cup of Baseball
World Cup of Baseball
The Baseball World Cup is an international tournament in which national baseball teams from around the world compete. It is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation . Along with the World Baseball Classic, it is one of two active tournaments considered by the IBAF to be a major world...
after going 12 for 19 with 8 stolen bases in the tournament.
In July 1997, Paret and his Villa Clara teammates Osmani García and Angel López spoke with Cuban defector Rolando Arrojo
Rolando Arrojo
Luis Rolando Arrojo Avila was a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched from to .Arrojo made his mark with the teams from Villa Clara in the Cuban National Series, where he still is the all-time leader in hit batsmen. He was the staff ace on the Villa Clara team that won 3 consecutive Cuban...
by telephone. As a result, they were banned from Cuban baseball for "maintaining contact with baseball traitors." The ban has since been lifted.
On July 28, 2006, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com reported that Paret and Yulieski Gourriel
Yulieski Gourriel
Yulieski Gourriel is a Cuban baseball player. A member of Cuba's national team and Sancti Spíritus in the Cuban National Series, Gourriel is primarily a third baseman, though he has also played other positions, such as shortstop and 2nd base...
had defected from Cuba and into Colombia.
. Days later, Gourriel denied the report.