When going back the “tape of vida” of the receiver Ariel Pestano they emphasize his gold medals in the Olympic Games of Athens 2004; in the Pan American of Winnipeg of 1999 and in the Central American ones and of the Caribbean realized in Colombia, but the retirement is leaving more displeasures to him than laurels.
“What did hurt me a lot was that they cheated on me, that they lied to me, that they used me,” he said in a recent interview. Complete Swing. “It pained me that at the end of my sporting career I was told I was no longer of interest to the National Commission.”
The player refers to a passage of pain he experienced in 2013. This year Pestano, who felt at the best moment of his career, was excluded from the Cuban team that would participate in the III World Baseball Classic, between on March 2-19.
Pestano’s complaints are of special value because the athlete was a staunch supporter of the Cuban government. The regime granted to him, being still active sportsman, the position of provincial delegate of the Popular Power to the municipality of Caibarién.
In 2017 Ariel Pestano closed the door to Cuban players in the United States Major Leagues who wanted to form a unified team and thus represent the Island in the World Baseball Classic and other international events
Under this position, in 2017 closed the door to Cuban players in the United States Major Leagues who wanted to form a unified team and thus represent the Island in the World Baseball Classic and other international events.
“Calling a team would take away the value we deserve. Something like that would offend us, they would laugh at us (…) Here are many retired players who if they wanted to would be big league stars and millionaires , like all of them, “Pestano said on another occasion Martí Radio and Television.
Four years earlier, Pestano was excluded from the list of the III World Baseball Classic in which the names of Yulexis La Rosa (Vila Clara), Frank Camilo Morejón (Industrials) and Eriel Sánchez (Sancti Spíritus) appeared. he found it unfair.
On the absence of the experienced Ariel Pestano it was said then that it was for “suffering from chickenpox.” The same receiver villaclareño denied this version, “of health I am perfect”.
the sandcher is considered a historian, a school athlete who integrated all national teams from the children’s category to the maximum. the Veteran, As some called him, wore the 13th of the Vila Clara selection and was a three-time Baseball World Cup champion. And a guy with character, “I’m not one to think everything ends in a day.”
Although, the player confessed, it hurt in 2013 that “the effort and the fruit of all my medals, they were not going to pay me, because they were no longer valid” and simply because it was no longer of interest to the National Commission “.
Ariel Pestano gathered the virtues of extraordinary catchers like Juan Castro, Alberto Martínez and Pere Medina, and was as opportune to the bat as the latter
And so, without further ado, he edged the retreat to this legend in his position in the at home, To this creator also of the championship of the Orange Leopards of Villa Clara in Series 52, to this personage who integrated the lists of best athletes of Cuba in several occasions.
Although he had Pestano for a while, proof of this was the decisive home run that connected and gave him the championship in Vila Clara in the 2012-2013 season, against Matanzas, that June 18, 2013. His retirement is gave on September 17, 2013, at the stadium of Caibarién, in the province of Villa Clara.
Pestano combined the virtues of extraordinary catchers such as Juan Castro, Alberto Martínez and Pere Medina, and was as timely in the bat as the latter. Many fans, journalists and specialists consider him one of the three best receivers of the national ball, and even declare him the best.
Throughout 22 National Series with the equipment of Villa Clara, Pestano compiled by 287 of average, Product of 1,532 unstoppable in 5,339 times at bat, including 302 doubles, 33 triples and 153 homers. He scored a total of 720 runs and drove 901, with 681 strikeouts and 649 tickets received, he noted. Complete Swing. And if anything was missing, on defense he averaged 991, with just 78 errors on 8,319 throws and 805 assists.
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