Star Cuban pitcher Jose Contreras is in the United States and under the control of immigration authorities after defecting last week while in Mexico. <br>
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Contreras, coach Miguel Valdez and his 19-year-old son were being held at an Immigration and Naturalization Service detention facility in San Diego on Monday, spokeswoman Lauren Mack said. <br>
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Contreras, who turns 31 in December, was considered by many major league scouts as the best pitcher in Cuba. He was last seen at the America Series tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, last Tuesday night. <br>
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The three Cubans entered the United States through San Ysidro, Calif., and came into INS custody on Oct. 2, Mack said. Bond has been set for them, she said. <br>
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Contreras, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, rose to prominence with his performance against the Baltimore Orioles in an exhibition game at Havana in 1999. He pitched eight shutout innings and allowed two hits while striking out 10, including Albert Belle twice. <br>
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Several Cuban players have defected in the last decade, and a few wound up starring in the major leagues. <br>
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Orlando ``El Duque'' Hernandez helped pitch the New York Yankees to three World Series championships and his half brother, Livan Hernandez, was the 1997 World Series MVP and currently pitches for San Francisco. Rey Ordonez became a Gold Glove shortstop for the New York Mets. <br>
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Typically, the immigration process and request for political asylum can take 3-to-6 months. It usually involves interviews with INS agents and a review by an asylum officer before a judge hears the case. <br>
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If a person under INS jurisdiction posts bond, he is free to remain in the United States while his case is being considered. <br>
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Contreras frequently was allowed to travel outside Cuba with teams. He was on the All-Star roster for the return trip to Baltimore in 1999 and has pitched in Taiwan and Canada. <br>
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This year, Contreras was 13-4 and led the Cuban league with a 1.76 ERA. He had done especially well in international tournaments, winning his last seven decisions against top worldwide competition. <br>
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Cuba's National Institute of Sports and the Cuban Federation of Baseball had confirmed the defections of the 53-year-old coach and Contreras, ``who until the moment of his desertion from the ranks of Cuban sports had maintained a correct attitude and discipline.
