Manuel Vega Tamayo is a right-handed pitcher who plays for Granma of the Cuban National Series

Cuban National Series

The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...

. He was also part of the Cuban team at the 2004 Summer Olympics

2004 Summer Olympics

The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...

, and there became the first athlete from Granma Province

Granma Province

Granma is one of the provinces of Cuba. Its capital is Bayamo. Other towns include Manzanillo and Pilón.-History:...

 to win an Olympic gold medal.

Vega, considered a fastball

Fastball

The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...

 pitcher, was selected for the Cuban national baseball team in 2004 after posting an 8-5 record with a 3.59 ERA

Earned run average

In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...

 during that year's National Series

2003-04 Cuban National Series

The 43rd Cuban National Series ended with Industriales winning their record 10th title, sweeping Villa Clara in the best of seven final.-Western zone:-Eastern zone:-Playoffs:...

.