The Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) announced this Friday a pre-schedule of 50 players for the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic. The list is made up of 12 professional baseball players residing abroad, another 16 men hired under the protection of the island’s authorities, and 22 who play exclusively in domestic tournaments.
In the Adolfo Luque Room of the Latinoamericano stadium, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the FCB, and Armando Johnson, mentor of the national team, made the official presentation of a historic call, in which for the first time players who decided to emigrate and pursue a professional career, without ties to the Cuban sports movement.
As Pérez Pardo clarified, for this call, athletes who, in the past, abandoned delegations in international events, were not taken into account, which is considered a serious indiscipline in the Regulations of the Cuban competitive system.
Apart from this decision, the call will allow Cuba to present a more competitive team to face the V World Classic, in which the Island will face the Netherlands, Italy, Panama and Chinese Taipei starting next March 8 in Taichung.
#Cuba announces 50 names for the World Baseball Classic #Baseball
On February 7, the list of 30 players for the event will be registered. #baseball #baseball https://t.co/WCA1dG8RiB pic.twitter.com/o6RlRQVmEh— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) January 6, 2023
Before the Classic, the national preselection will be concentrated in the Latinoamericano stadium starting on January 15, with the exception of players belonging to MLB organizations, which have regulations and require special permits to join training sessions.
The president of the FCB pointed out that a training base in the area is also being managed by the end of January, specifically in the Dominican Republic or Mexico. In addition, several preparation duels in Japan against the Chunichi Dragons, the Yomiuri Giants and the Softbank Falcons are expected to take place during the second half of February.
The list of 50 players is made up of the following athletes:
Receivers
Lorenzo Quintana, Andrys Pérez, Yosvany Alarcón, Oscar Valdés and Rafael Viñales.
infielders
Ariel Martínez, Guillermo Avilés, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Luis Vicente Mateo, Yadil Mujica, Yurisbel Gracial, Dayán García, Yoan Moncada, Pavel Quesada, Andy Ibáñez. Pedro Revilla and Guillermo Garcia
gardeners
Raico Santos, Yoelkis Giubert, Roel Santos, Yadir Drake, Alfredo Despaigne, Lázaro Armenteros, Yoenis Céspedes and Luis Robert.
launchers
Yoenni Yera, Liván Moinelo, Carlos Juan Viera, Raidel Martínez, Yariel Rodríguez, Frank Abel Álvarez, Naykel Cruz, Marlon Vega, Javier Mirabal, Franklyn Quintana, Jonathan Carbó, José Ramón Rodríguez, Alexander Valiente, Roberto Hernández, Yeudis Reyes, Pavel Hernández , Hermes González, Dariel Góngora, Alberto Pablo Civil, Onelkis García, Ronald Bolaños, Miguel Romero, Yoan López, Elián Leyva and Roenis Elías.
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