Cuban Little League coach goes missing at the World Series – during the team’s first-ever appearance at the tournament
The Cuban Little League coach goes missing during the World Series – during the team’s first-ever appearance at the tournament
A coach of Cuba’s first-ever Little League World Series team is missing, a tournament official announced Monday.
Jose Perez, a Bayamo Little League coach, left the Little League International Grove late Saturday night and did not return.
Perez, a coach for the team representing the Cuba region in the inaugural Little League World Series, reportedly gave no reason for leaving.
“Little League International has communicated with all appropriate authorities and will ensure that the Bayamo Little League team continues to receive the best support and experience in Williamsport,” said Kevin Fountain, spokesperson for Little League International.
Perez was one of two coaches for the Cuban team, which is led by Vladimir Vargas.
A coach of the Cuban Little League team disappeared during their first World Series
His disappearance came just hours after Little League and the Cuban Baseball Federation extended their relationship until 2025.
Perez was seen on security camera footage getting into a vehicle around 11 p.m. Saturday night near the International Grove complex, where team players, managers and coaches will be staying during the tournament.
The relationship between Little League and Cuba began in 2019 with the connection of 170 youth programs and an entry to the LLWS as part of Expansion of the World Series in 2021.
In 2021, a three-year rotation was established between Cuba, Puerto Rico and Panama. On the rotation, two teams earn an automatic bid to the tournament each year, and the remaining team competes for a spot in the LLWS through the regional tournament.
To get Bayamo’s Cuban national champions into this year’s tournament, Little League worked with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and the State Department to secure 20 visas for the Cuban team, plus coaches and baseball officials.
Wednesday was Cuba’s first game in the LLWS, a 1-0 loss to Japan. After beating Australia 11-1 in the opening round of the elimination round, the Cubans lost 3-2 to Panama on Sunday and were eliminated from the tournament. Even after being eliminated, teams typically remain on the Little League campus and play exhibition games in the area for a few days.
More to follow.