The team that will represent Cuba in the V World Baseball Classic (WBC) was complete this Friday in the city of Taichung, in taiwanwith the incorporation of the eight players who had not covered the preparation segment until now, among them those who belong to franchises of the Major League Baseball (MLB).
The team led by Armando Johnson will have its first training session this Saturday with the full payroll before closing the conditioning phase with two matches with teams from the Taiwanese professional league, according to a note from the sports portal Hit.
they are already with #elCubaClasico the eight players arrived in Taichung today. Here are brief statements by Yoenis Céspedes, Andy Ibáñez and Yoan Moncada. #Cuba #BaseBall #CubanBaseball #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/IERc13Mhdw
— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) March 3, 2023
The media reports that the first to arrive at the concentration hotel was pitcher Miguel Romero, who belongs to the Oakland Athletics squad and has worked to get fit in the Dominican Republic until now.
“Everything is fine, I have kept in communication with the boys and I am delighted to be here,” he said, quoted by Hit.
Romero said that he was aware of the matches played by his teammates, asserted that his initial expectations are centered on going to the second round and praised the conception with which the roster was developed.
A little later, pitchers Roennis Elías (Chicago Cubs) and Ronald Bolaños (Kansas City Royals) were also added, and outfielders Luis Robert Moirán (Chicago White Sox) and Yoenis Céspedes (free agent), added the report.
“After so many years without playing with the Cuba team, having the opportunity, especially in a World Classic, is the dream of every baseball player,” emphasized Céspedes, who was a member of the national team that participated in the III World Classic in 2009. .
Also joining the team were infielders Andy Ibáñez (Detroit Tigers) and Yoan Moncada (Chicago White Sox), and catcher Lorenzo Quintana (free agent), as well as the president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, points out the information.
The Cuban cast will visit the field of a local university on Saturday afternoon, where a day later they will have a preparation match against the Rakuten Monkeys. Next Monday they would be closing the preparatory phase with a similar duel against Hermanos CTBC, also from the top-level local league.
Cuba’s debut in the V World Classic is set for March 8 against the Netherlands team, in a match corresponding to group A of the tournament.
Cuba has participated in all the editions of the tournament held so far. Their best performance has been second place, achieved in the initial version of 2006, when they lost to Japan in the final.
