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Two Cuban players defect while playing in US

Two baseball players have defected from Cuba while in the U.S. for a series of games against U.S. collegiate players, according to The Associated Press.

Third baseman Luis Yander La O left the Cuban team in North Carolina, while outfielder Yadiel Hernandez also previously defected, according to the sports website Jit.

La O, 25, hit .329 in the Cuban League last season, while the 28-year-old Hernandez batted .355 combined during the 2014 and '15 seasons.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth.