Son of Fidel Castro elected vice president of International Baseball Federation

Castro’s son elected to baseball federation

HAVANA — A son of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s has been elected one of three vice presidents of the International Baseball Federation after a vote Sunday in Lausanne, Switzerland, Cuban sports officials said.

Antonio Castro, a 39-year-old doctor, was elected to the post along with Japan’s Kazuhiro Tawa and Mexico’s Alonso Perez. Ricardo Fraccari of Italy was selected the federation’s new president. The IBAF administers baseball outside the major pro leagues.

Fidel Castro, who stepped down as Cuba’s president in February 2008, is a lifelong fanatic of sports — particularly baseball. His son has been vice president of the Cuban Baseball Federation since 2000, and also is the national team doctor.

The Cuban Sports Institute called the younger Castro’s election “a vote of confidence in Cuban sports in general and especially in baseball on the island.”