MALVEAUX: Major League Baseball player who defected from Cuba a decade ago was never allowed to go back home again to see his family. Well, Cuba has now lifted many travel restrictions and Jose Cantreras finally got a chance to go back home. Patrick Oppmann was there for this joyful reunion in Havana.</s>PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This rough hewn baseball diamond outside Havana isn't much to look at. But for one Cuban legend, it is truly a field of dreams. Jose Contreras was once a star pitcher in Cuba. Fidel Castro dubbed Contreras</s>OPPMANN (on camera): With a change in immigration laws, more and more Cuban sports stars who defected are expected to begin returning. And no doubt the Cuban government won't mind if they bring back with them some of those multimillion dollar salaries they earned playing overseas.</s>OPPMANN (voice-over): Playing in the American major leagues with the Yankees, White Sox, and Phillies, Contreras earned tens of millions of dollars. More than the salaries of all the player's on Cuba's national team combined. But he said those big paydays didn't ease the longing he felt to see his family back home. "At first, we were missing the past. It was tough. Ten years not seeing my brother," he said. "But everyone's good now. We're just enjoying the moment." A decade outside the island convinced Contreras he would be forgotten by his countrymen. But he can't go anywhere here without people asking for a photo. Or being embraced by former teammates. This pickup game draws other legends of Cuban baseball. Nursing an injury, Contreras plays first base instead of pitching. Once he recovers, he hopes to return to playing professionally soon. This is hardly the major leagues. After a home run, the play is interrupted to look for the ball. The only one they have. And at the end, no one can even tell you what the score was.
Baseball Star Returns To Cuba