A Cuban baseball player defected from the country's national team Wednesday, according to the Cuban Baseball Federation.
César Prieto, a 22-year-old infielder, left the Cuban National Baseball Team while it was in Florida, participating in an Olympic qualifying tournament.
In a statement posted in Spanish to its website, the Federación Cubana de Béisbol confirmed Prieto's decision.
"His decision, which is contrary to the commitment he made with both his country and team, has generated repudiation among his colleagues and other members of the delegation, who are willing to overcome foreign interests to be faithful to our homeland and the mission with which we traveled to the tournament," the statement reads.