The pitcher Roenis Elias, one of the Major League Baseball (MLB) players who represents Cuba in the V World Baseball Classic (WBC)highlighted the unity of the Cuban team, which he described as “a family.”
Elías, who has been announced as the opener of the crucial semifinal match this Sunday, valued The unprecedented experience of bringing together players hired in the main professional circuit with those who work in other leagues, including the Cuban one, is “positive”.
“The addition of us who have Major League experience has helped the guys a lot. Now we are not a team, we are a family ”, assured the member of the Chicago Cubs to the specialized portal Cuban ball.
“All the boys get along well, there is tremendous chemistry between everyone, and nothing, super happy to be here and happy to represent those four letters,” added the left-hander from Guantánamo, one of the pitchers who played in the quarterfinal match of end off Australia.
About the next meeting, Elias hopes that the presentation of the island’s team in the city of Miami be well received by the Cuban community that resides there.
“People should support the team, without looking at the things that have been left behind, try to give the people that joy and go out and play ball, which is what we know how to do,” he added.
The cast that represents the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) in the tournament advanced for the second time in history to a semifinal, a match that will take place this Sunday at the LoanDepot Park in Little Havana, in the Florida city, against the winner of the clash that a day before Venezuela and the United States will hold.
The Guantanamo left-hander, one of the main exponents of the staff of Cuban pitchers, he had his first foray into the tournament, whitewashing the Italian team in five innings, during the second date.
In the quarterfinal matchup against Australia, he pitched two innings and withstood a two-run home run that endangered the advantage his teammates had established up to that moment, but finally he did not allow more liberties and handed over the game with a run ahead to the following relievers.
Destination Miami: Cuba is among the four greats of the Classic
Added to his two previous appearances, Elías archives seven chapters of performance, in which he has allowed four hits, has struck out three batters, has barely given away a ticket and opponents are batting only .160, according to the official numbers of the event.
Regarding the controversy that the step that he and other MLB players have taken for this tournament has generated, the pitcher explained that he respects all the criteria. “C.Everyone does what they want, no one can be judged, just as no one can judge me either for the decision I makeand and nothing, here we are, look where we got to thank God and from here on out “, he added.
This Sunday’s game will be a decisive test for the Guantanamo pitcher and for the entire team of the four letters. “ANDwe are ready Whatever comes, we are available for whatever game it is, thank God I didn’t make many pitches against Australia and we are ready”, he specified.
If they were successful in their next match, the Cuban team would have matched their best performance in a World Classic, since in the initial edition held in 2006 they occupied second position after losing in the final against the Japanese team.
