In Cuba, Vera pitches for Santiago de Cuba of the Cuban National Series. He has been a dominating force for years, including the 1999-2000 series, when he led the league with a 0.97 ERA, 17 victories and eight shutouts—all in a 90-game season.
Vera was seriously injured in November 2009, while trying to stop a fight as an uninvolved bystander in Santiago, Cuba.