Cuba announced this Wednesday the team of 30 baseball players that will compete in the V World Baseball Classic 2023, including three players from the island signed by the Major League Baseball (MLB) of the United States.
The Cuban roster for the event, which will be held in four cities in Asia and America from March 8 to 21, is made up of two catchers, eight infielders, six outfielders and 14 pitchers under the direction of Armando Jhonson, reported the Federation Cuban Baseball (FCB) in a program on the state television sports channel.
Johnson said that the support they have received from the National Sports Institute (Inder) "It has been fundamental as well as the technical group with which we are working. I’m very happy with what I’ve seen so far in training".
The debut of the Cubans is scheduled for March 8, on the first day of the contest, against the Netherlands team.
Team Composition:
Receivers: Andrys Perez and Lorenzo Quintana.
Infielders: Ariel Martínez, Andy Ibáñez, Yadil Mujica, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Luis Vicente Mateo, Yadir Drake, Dayán García, Yoan Moncada and Pavel Quesada (reserve).
Gardeners: Roel Santos, Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelquis Guibert, Yurisbel Gracial, Luis Robert Moirán, Yoenis Céspedes and in the reserve Raico Santos and Lázaro Armenteros.
Launchers: Yariel Rodríguez, Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez, Elián Leyva, Frank Abel Álvarez, Roenis Elías, José Ramón Rodríguez, Ronald Bolaños, Yeudis Reyes, Naykel Cruz, Carlos Juan Viera, Luis Miguel Romero, Yoenni Yera and Onelkis García.
On the pitching staff include Marlon Vega, Javier Mirabal, Franklyn Quintana and Alexander Valiente
The three players that make up American Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are Andy Ibañez, of the Detroit Tigers, and Yoan Manuel Moncada and Luis Robert Moirán, both of the Chicago White Sox.
The pitching coach Pedro Luis declared during training that the players who are active in the MLB incorporated into the team "They are professionals, as everyone knows, they are currently working in their countries so I don’t think I see much of a problem with that.Of course we would like to have them already!".
These players will join the group on March 3, as established by the organizers and according to the license granted by the United States government, indicated the Cuban Federation.
He also said that the bulk of the team will continue training at the Latin American Stadium in Havana until February 5, when they plan to travel to Japan to continue their preparation.
Cuba received a permit from the US last December. that allows him to include baseball players from the island who play in the American Major Leagues in the national team that will go to the World Classic.
the island teamsubtitle of the first edition of the tournament in 2006, It is located in the A key and will be a rival to the teams of the Netherlands, Italy, Panama and Taiwan.
