Pinero pitcher Yoan López, who aimed to be one of the fundamental pieces of the Antillean bullpen in the coming World Baseball Classicdeclined to participate in the event to focus on his upcoming professional commitments with the Yomiuri Giants, reported Sunday the Cuban Federation (FCB) on their social networks.
“Yoan López informed us that he thanks but declines the invitation to the Cuban team to the V World Baseball Classic. We respect his willingness to focus on issues surrounding his signing with the Yomiuri Giants. Thanks for wishing us success. Other opportunities will come”, stated the FCB on Twitter.
López, together with Andy Ibáñez and Elián Leyva, was part of the first group of emigrated players who agreed to represent Cuba in the fifth edition of the Classic, a decision that cost him various questions from fans and specialists in social networks.
Yoan López informed us that he thanks but declines the call to the team #Cuba to the V World Classic of #Baseball. We respect your willingness to focus on issues tied to your signing with the Yomiuri Giants. Thanks for wishing us success. Other opportunities will come. #elCubaClasico pic.twitter.com/xBQlqtM3kM
— Cuban Baseball Federation (@CubanaBeisbol) January 22, 2023
The pitcher was criticized, fundamentally, for joining a team managed by the FCB, an entity that dismissed the call of many other players for their political views or for being “deserters” in past international events.
Against these criteria, López said at all times that he focused only on playing ball and not on political issues. “I always wanted to play for my country, even when that seemed impossible, both for reasons beyond my control and for personal reasons. So as soon as I found out that Johnson would be the team manager for the Clásico, I contacted him,” he said in an interview with journalist Yuliet Pérez Calaña.
However, his recent signing with the Yomiuri Giants on the Japanese professional circuit – where he has never worked – has led him to resign his position in the national team for the Classic, in which, presumably, he was going to form a solid trident. relievers with Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez from Pinar del Río.
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Although López has not had good numbers in recent times, his experience of five seasons in MLB and the power of his repertoire made him an indispensable piece in the Antillean bullpen, which must now look for alternatives.
Yoan López (30 years old) left Cuba in 2013 and in January 2015 signed his first professional contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 8.27 million dollars. After two years as a starter without good results, he managed to establish himself as a reliever in the Minors, with a 0.85 ERA in 21 games and a strikeout rate close to 50% in 2017.
His progression allowed him to debut the following year in the Major Leagues, where he earned a position as Arizona’s firefighter, who came to use him in 70 games during the 2019 season. However, López’s career in MLB has been marked by instability. his performance, as reflected by his 4.39 ERA, his rate of 1.8 home runs per nine innings and his 1.33 WHIP in 112 innings.
