TEMPE, Ariz. — The gentleman from Cuba sits on a padded bridge chair in the shade of a dugout on a distant diamond at the Angels' training complex, watching some of the organization's best young players take infield and batting practice.
The gentleman understands their dreams. He was once the youngest player in the major leagues. Now, soon to be 82, he is in his 61st spring in professional baseball, the last 24 years with the Angels as a coach and counselor.
His official title is special assistant to General Manager Bill Stoneman, but Preston Gomez is more than that.
He is confidant and mentor to Manager Mike Scioscia.
He is a liaison from Scioscia and Stoneman to the club's impressive group of Latino and other stars.
He is an ongoing and influential voice of reason in the club's decision-making process, and, as Scioscia also put it:
He is a "storehouse of baseball knowledge capable of cutting through any debate."
"I'm here for Mike, the coaches and players," the gentleman said. "Sometimes people may not like what I say, but I'm going to express my mind."
Why not? He was a player, manager and coach at all levels in all seasons. Few have a larger storehouse. The gentleman talks, people listen.
That's the way it is in the morning staff meetings conducted by Scioscia and Stoneman during spring training -- or any other meeting at any other time, and that should not be a surprise.
The gentleman has never hesitated to express his mind -- in an even larger arena.
How many times has he tried to reason with Cuban baseball officials regarding the restrictive regime in his homeland?
How many times has he asked them for the opportunity to discuss the subject with Fidel Castro, only to be restricted to brief baseball chats with the Cuban leader, who is said to be quite a fan of the game.
It may not be shuttle diplomacy, but the gentleman will make the commute any time he is invited -- no longer a 21-year-old shortstop from the Havana Sugar Kings on his way to the major leagues, but aware still of the way it once was in his island home and passionately confident it could be again.
"It's the one thing I want to see before I die, not only for Cuban players but for the people who have suffered so," the gentleman said. "It hurts to see what Cuba is now."
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More than 27% of players on opening-day rosters in the major leagues last year were born outside the mainland U.S., as were more than 47% of minor league players.
