Even with the trade embargo, Major League Baseball has seen more than its fair share of Cuban baseball stars; from nine-time All-Star Minnie Minoso to Hall of Famer Tony Perez to postseason legends Livan and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez to current superstars like Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu and flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman.
That being said, there's obvious reasons we haven't seen more Cuban stars come over to the United States, and Wednesday's news about the possible lifting of the embargo could very well lead to more players making their way to MLB. It's important to note that it's unlikely that this creates a "pipeline" like the league currently has in Central and South America, but likely more of a system similar to what we see between MLB and the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, in which teams pay posting fees to procure players' services, which obviously beats the alternative of players risking their lives to leave for greener pastures.
Here's a look at the five best Cuban prospects, and why they have a chance to be successful at the big league level.
1. Yoan Moncada, OF, Cienfuegos
Moncada may or may not still be in Cuba, but in terms of pure talent, he's as good as any Cuban prospect there is. A switch-hitting outfielder, Moncada has big-time bat speed from both sides of the plate, with the tools to hit for both average and power. Add in plus speed and the fact he already has a track record of performing well in tournaments against upper-level competition, and you have a potential superstar, though expecting him to contribute at the big league level before 2016 is probably asking too much of the 19-year-old.