The documentary “The Last Out” was originally slated to premiere at 2020’s Tribeca Film Festival but was pushed back to this year’s festival due to the pandemic. It’s one of the 2020 films receiving a special screening this year, as a doc about three Cuban baseball players hoping to get their big break in the Major Leagues.
Due to the relationship between Cuba and the U.S., it’s illegal for MLB teams to recruit and sign Cuban players. Their road to the Majors is an uphill battle, and that much is true for the film’s three core subjects in Victor Baró, Carlos O. González and Happy Oliveros, who train together after all moving to Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica, once they are residents of Costa Rica, they’ll be able to scouted by the MLB and start the process of searching for contracts. However, they’ll have to deal with somewhat shady agents where the waiting game is grueling. This is the case with Gus Dominguez – an agent who houses the three hopefuls in Costa Rica, fronting their expenses where he’ll eventually get 20 per cent of their signing bonus.
That’s not why he’s shady; but he’s villainized at certain points in the film as he’s rather ruthless in cutting stars if he doesn’t think they’ll be able to sign for $300,000 or upwards in the majors. If they only sign for $100,000; that investment isn’t worth it. Baseball’s a business after all, so these prospects are “investments” that he has risk in.
It’s intriguing how all that plays out with the three ball players and the different paths they have to take in hopes of even getting in front of MLB scouts to get a chance to make it to the Major Leagues.
Trying to beat the odds
We learn that from 2011-2016 only six Cuban players have made it to the pro level, out of hundreds that have tried. Evidently, the odds are stacked against them our heroes from the start. Directors Michael Gassert and Sami Khan also show that chasing this dream is a risk. They paint that picture well, especially as we see the men’s family back home missing them.
This is not a sports film that’s inspiring in the traditional ways and feels rather depressing at times. It’s more of a dose of reality kind-of film, as it’s also about their journey to America. The film is hopeful at first. Like the ball players, we believe that the sky is the limit. It seems that they were led to believe that it would be a quick process, but it is not.
Happy Oliveros in ‘The Last Out,’ premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. (Photo by: Jonathan Miller.)
Entertainment factor
Their waiting is endless and heartbreaking. We don’t know the odds are stacked against them yet. As we learn that with them, it hits hard… The entertainment value isn’t paramount here. However, when it does entertain, it’s when these players are together, having fun. They’re so fun to watch and they bring a lot of heart to the film.
They cite their inspirations in the Majors; like Dominican players that have made it, or like Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura. This is one of the moments that dates the documentary, since Ventura passed away in early 2017.
As a film that does inspire because of the players’ work ethic and keeping their on the prize – the Major Leagues – “The Last Out” surely works. This is a scouting system that should be fixed, and the film sheds light on that. This is especially true for Cuban players.
They only have so many years to play, and waiting so long to even get residency is a problem. I wanted to see the film go a bit deeper. It would have been great to see what some executives think of these issues and if there’s anything that’s being done. Still, this is a strong, challenging doc all the same.
“The Last Out” had a special screening at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 19.
