Today is a good day to be a baseball fan in Cuba. According to reports from CiberCuba, the 2017 World Series will finally be broadcast on the Caribbean island. Although baseball’s biggest series won’t be shown live, there will be a minimal delay of about 30 minutes. This is so Cuban media officials can censor any information they deem unnecessary to be included in the broadcast.
“Several well-informed sources say that the games will be transmitted in a deferred way, but with very little delay. Some say a half an hour, but all affirm that it is a fact: we will see the World Series, with ‘El Yuli’ and ‘Caballo Loco,’” said Radio Habana Cuba journalist Raúl Rodríguez.
This sudden change of heart from Cuba is largely due to the fact that two of the nation’s most beloved players will face off during the Fall Classic: Houston Astros first baseman Yulieski Gurriel and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig. Both have set this postseason ablaze, hitting a combined 386/.456/.571 en route to leading their respective sides to the World Series.
The last time Gurriel and Puig shared the same field was all the way back in March of 2011, when they were both members Cuba’s Serie Nacional, the top league on the island. Since, both have had different journeys to the big leagues, but all roads lead to this World Series showdown, one which is sure to be a point of pride for Cubans watching at home.
The Astros and Dodgers are set to square off starting on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Weather reports are saying that it could be upwards of 100 degrees in LA tonight, but the action on the field should be even hotter, as aces Clayton Kershaw for LA and Dallas Keuchel for Houston face off at Chavez Ravine. 2600 miles away, Cuban fans will finally be able to watch as two of the island’s best players face off.