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From Cuba To The World Series, Astros Trio Are 'glad To Be Here' 

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) watches batting practice before Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at 메이저사이트 Minute Maid Park in Houston. 

ATLANTA — Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel said he had one objective as a main priority while showing up from Cuba five years prior. 

"I just came here with the attitude of playing close by the world's ideal," Gurriel said. 

He conceded he didn't understand that would before long mean playing close by the most elite. 

"I didn't contemplate the chance of playing in a World Series," Gurriel said. "Presently look — it's three at this point." 

Gurriel, partaking in his third World Series with the Astros beginning around 2017, is one of three Cubans with the major association club. The Astros and Braves played Game 4 on Saturday night in Truist Park, with Atlanta holding a 2-1 benefit. 

Slugger Yordan Alvarez, in his third year in the major associations, was named the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series, which the Astros dominated in six matches over the Boston Red Sox. 

Nineteen Cuban-conceived players were on first day of the season lists in 2021, third behind the Dominican Republic (98) and Venezuela (64) among players brought into the world external the 50 United States, as indicated by USA Today. Cuban-conceived infielder Aledmys Díaz likewise is a vital save for the Astros. 

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"I feel truly unique to be a piece of that gathering, particularly realizing that nobody outside of Cuba can see all the penance that goes into having the option to get to this point … and arriving," Alvarez said. "Just to be a piece of that gathering and to be a piece of that … ability is something truly exceptional. It causes me to feel truly pleased." 

Alvarez is an overall young person at 24, while Gurriel didn't show up from Cuba until he was in his mid 30s. How could he figure out how to win the American League batting crown at age 37 with a .319 batting normal? 

"I'm an individual who deals with myself a ton," Gurriel clarified. "I attempt to practice good eating habits. I attempt to get a ton of rest, to simply have the option to confront a season that is so long. And, after its all said and done, it's more than you envision once in a while — it's an extremely long drudgery." 

Astros chief Dusty Baker said there's something different affecting everything, too, in light of Baker's times of involvement both as a player and director in the major associations. 

"Number one, (Gurriel) deals with himself, for sure," Baker said. "He deals with himself eating, he doesn't drink (liquor), he doesn't hang out. He may be a particular age, however he (appears) five, six years more youthful than the age he is. 

"Additionally, he's Latin American, and the Latin Americans that I concocted — they don't age. You take a gander at Minnie Minoso, Orlando Cepeda, Rico Carty, every one of the folks that I concocted, they used to play winter ball each year." 

Notwithstanding all of Baker's applause for Gurriel, Baker said his trustworthy first baseman moved toward him a little while prior with regards to the toil causing significant damage. 

"He let me know that he was somewhat worn," Baker reviewed. "I just told him, 'Hello, man, you must stop letting yourself know that, and simply imagine that you're not worn out.' And (I reminded him) of the way that our fathers went to work each day, and never became ill. 

"I can't recall my father truly being wiped out, home in bed wiped out. (My father) didn't have any desire to hear that you were drained. So some of it is a perspective, and it relies upon how solid your brain is." 

Cuba had 16 players in the major associations when Fidel Castro rose to control in 1959, as indicated by USA Today. That number dwindled over the course of the a very long time with Castro running the nation, and other Latin American nations started dwarfing Cubans in the majors. Castro passed on five years prior. 

Various abandonments started occurring during the 1990s, and when the Astros played the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series this year, a record six Cubans between the two clubs played in a postseason game, as indicated by Elias Sports Bureau. 

With respect to Gurriel's prosperity this season, and notwithstanding being a little worn out the stretch, he's likewise a Gold Glove finalist for his smooth work at a respectable starting point. 

"To be a finalist makes me truly cheerful, and it's (my) third time being a finalist for a Gold Glove," Gurriel said. "As is commonly said in Cuba, the third time is the appeal, so ideally this is the time I will win."