Why ask "Y"?

Are first names starting with “Y” all the rage in Cuba? Maybe. Look below at the roster of Cuban players with names starting with “Y.”

Yosvani Fonseca, LHP, Matanzas
Yulieski Gonzalez, LHP, La Habana
Yadel Marti, RHP, Industriales
Yunieski Maya, RHP, Pinar del Rio
Yadier Pedroso, RHP, La Habana
Yosvany Perez, LHP, Cienfuegos
Yulexis La Rosa, Villa Clara
Yorbis Borroto, SS, Ciego de Avila
Yorelvis Charles, 2B, Ciego de Avila
Yulieski Gourriel, 3B, Sancti Spiritus
Yoennis Cedpedes, Granma
Yoandy Garlobo, Matanzas
Yoandry Urgelles, Industriales

For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 13 out of the 42 players listed on the preliminary roster--and that’s without Yudelvis Hernandez and Yudelvis Rodriguez! Here is what this looks like in a real box score:

I am guessing it was the Soviet Union’s sponsorship of and relationship with Cuba that is responsible for this glut of obviously-not-Spanish “Y” names.