CUBAN BASEBALL PLAYER HERNANDEZ ARRIVES IN COSTA RICA, 1998-01-08 (photo)

Cuban baseball player Orlando Hernandez (R), stands beside his companions Joel Pedroso and Geidys Gonzalez (L), speaks with the press upon his arrival at the Juan Santamaria International Airport late January 7 following a private flight from the Bahamas. Pitcher Hernandez and catcher Alberto Hernandez, two Cuban baseball stars who arrived in the Bahamas last month on a rickety boat from their homeland, had been granted humanitarian visas by the U.S. government, but balked at coming to the United States without five other Cubans with whom they left their Communist-ruled homeland. COSTA RICA CUBANS