The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) This Tuesday, he announced a list of 59 players with options to join the team that will represent him in the initial edition of the America’s Cupwhose preliminary phase will have the island in the group based in Venezuela between November 12 and 17.
Beyond the announcement of the preselection, a mix of proven figures and others on the rise, the decision of helmsman Germán Mesa of the coaching staff that can accompany him until the next stands out. World Baseball Classic (WBC, for its acronym in English).
“I had the possibility of choosing that management body, without stopping consulting with the technical team of the Cuban Baseball Federation,” declared Germán, according to journalist Joel García’s report from the press conference in which the news was announced.
Mesa, one of the highest-level shortstops who has ever played in Cuban baseball, considered several names for his coaching staff, among which Noelvis González stands out, who was in the pools for the selection of the manager for the Classic.
“The case of Noelvis González as a bench coach is due to his preparation, the work done and his experience,” he explained about the lesson of who will be his right-hand man in future tournaments.
“We can have good chemistry and he can contribute a lot as he has been doing since he arrived. I decided that he is the one who can follow in my footsteps and we are on that line,” he added.
He also referred to Omar Linares, who will be in charge of the team’s batting, as a coach who has a lot of experience due to the work he does in that regard with the Chunichi Dragons, in professional baseball in Japan.
The only one who repeats from the previous Classic, in which Germán assisted as assistant to the then director Armando Johnson, is the former pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo, who will be guiding the pitchers along with Jesús Bosmenier.
“We had Jesús Manso in mind, but because of his work in Mexico he cannot be here,” he explained, in addition to considering Bosmenier as “one of the most prepared coaches we have.”
The coaching staff was completed with Rafael Muñoz and Javier Dreke to occupy the third and first coach positions, respectively, whose experience in those functions was recognized.
Humberto Marcos Guevara will share the dual role of coach and Technical Head.
“We are looking for different results, therefore, we have to do different things. That is the reason for the coaches’ movements,” he said.
Pieces to put together the puzzle
From now on, Germán Mesa will have a wide range of possibilities to put together the team that he will lead in the Copa América, an exam that seems quite demanding due to the tradition of the nations that will accompany him in the group.
In addition to the ninth host, Cuba will compete with the teams from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Curacao. In the other key with a seat in Panama – also the venue for the final – the locals will have the company of Puerto Rico, Colombia, Canada, Brazil and Argentina.
“I highly value this preliminary list for the Copa América… It is the best we have in Cuba today and from there the final list will come out,” said the helmsman after the announcement of the candidates to make up the final list.
At the same time, he specified that he will take care of working with the material he has and “not worry about any opposition.”
Names such as the experienced Alfredo Despaigne, Erisbel Arruebaruena and Alexei Ramírez stand out on the list, the latter two with experience in the Major Leagues (MLB).
Cuba preselection
Receivers: Andrys Pérez, Yosvany Alarcón, Andi Yaniel Cosme, Harold Vázquez and Yohangel La O.
Infielders: Barbarian Erisbel Arruebarruena; Roberto Sulivan Baldoquín, Jean Lucas Baldoquín, Alexei Fernando Ramírez, Luis Vicente Mateo, Christian Leandro Rodríguez, Yiddi Cappe, Jean Harvin Walters, Ángel Alfredo Hechavarría, Ariel Hechevarría, Jeison Martínez, Yulieski Miguel Remón, Yoel Yanqui, Lázaro Alfredo Cedeño and Yordanis Samon.
Gardeners: Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelkis Guibert, Roel Santos, Yasiel Andy González, Dennis Laza, Francisco José Martínez, Leonel Moa, Carlos Alberto Monier, Juan Carlos Negret, Raidel Sánchez, Frederich Cepeda, Yasser Conrado Izaguirre.
Launchers: Yoennis Yera, Pavel Hernández, Armando Addiel Dueñas, Raymond Figueredo, José Isais Grandales, Frank Ernesto Herrera, Randy Román Martínez, Yadián Martínez, Yankiel Mauris, Frank Luis Medina, Yoel Mojena, Yusniel Padrón, Rafael Orlando Perdomo, Leodán Manuel Reyes, Osdany Rodríguez, Darío Sarduy, Andy Vargas, Marlon Vega, Ariel Ernesto Zerquera, Yunier Batista, Sammi Enrique Benítez, José Ignacio Bermúdez, Eliander Bravo, Fernando Betanzo, Michel Alejandro Cabrera, Yunieski García, Geonel Gutiérrez.
