By David Royse, Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) --- Two defecting Cuban baseball players --- who rejected visa offers from the United States --- left the Bahamas Wednesday aboard a plane bound for Costa Rica.

Pitcher Orlando Hernandez and catcher Alberto Hernandez, who are not related, left Nassau with five other Cubans who helped the players defect, said Orlando Hernandez's aunt.

"He is looking forward to staying in Costa Rica a couple of months and then he's going to come here and he's going to stay with us,'' said Barbara Cruz of Miami.

Orlando Hernandez's common-law wife also fled Cuba with the group. She accepted a visa offer from the United States and arrived in Miami Sunday.

The players refused to accept visas from the United States when the five others were not offered asylum.

By not going directly to the United States, the players can avoid baseball's amateur draft and become free agents, enabling them to negotiate with any team.

Orlando Hernandez is the half-brother of Florida Marlins pitcher Livan Hernandez, the Most Valuable Player in last season's World Series.

The group chose Costa Rica because agent Joe Cubas, who negotiated the move, has helped other Cuban baseball players defect there.

"Mr. Cubas has three other ballplayers in Costa Rica, so this seemed a logical choice,'' said Rene Guim, a spokesman for Cubas.

© 1998 Associated Press .