ESPN Deportes to televise The Lost Son of Havana.

ESPN Deportes will televise the premiere of The Lost Son of Havana, a powerful documentary that gives viewers a first-hand look at Cuban pitcher Luis Tiant’s emotional return to Cuba after 46 years of exile and 19 seasons playing professional baseball for the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians, among others. The film will premiere on ESPN Deportes, Sunday, August 9, 2009 preceding Sunday Night Baseball’s Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees game. ESPN Deportes, ESPN and ESPN Classic will re-air the film throughout the month of August and October.

In anticipation of ‘The Lost Son of Havana’ TV debut, ESPN Deportes presented an exclusive screening of the documentary in Miami this past Thursday, July 30 with special guest, legendary Cuban baseball pitcher Luis Tiant, as well as Cuban Hall of Fame pitcher Tany Perez and MLB Pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, three of Cuba’s best baseball pitchers of all times in the major leagues. 
   
Directed by Jonathan Hock (Through the Fire, The Streak), produced by the Farrelly Brothers (There’s Something About Mary, Fever Pitch) and Kris Meyer, and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Breach), Lost Son of Havana offers a rare look inside present day Cuba and its people as a 67-year-old Tiant returns to the place of his childhood. During his visit home, he confronts once and for all the long-simmering feelings of love and loss he has for his family, his former teammates and for the country he left behind.
   
“Luis Tiant is one of the most recognized Cuban MLB pitchers of all times and we are thrilled to share, for the first time in television, his captivating story with our viewers,” said Lino Garcia, general manager, ESPN Deportes. “Our goal is to bring exciting programming that is relevant to the fans, and The Lost Son of Havana story resonates with all who have sacrificed to be the best at their craft.”
    The Lost Son of Havana was recently acquired by ESPN Films for TV rights at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Both English and Spanish-language versions of the film will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.