The pitcher Onelki García, who works independently in professional baseball, joined this Sunday in Japan the Cuban team that will participate in the V World Classic (WBC).
The man from Guantanamo declared upon his arrival in Japan that his inclusion in the island as a whole was “a dream that he wanted to fulfill” and said that he would give “everything for the country and for the people.”
The 33-year-old left-handed pitcher was eager to join training with the rest of his teammates, and assured that his expectations with the team in the Classic were to “win and win”, according to the specialized media. Hit.
already with #elCubaClasico the pitcher Onelki García, who thanked the call and declared himself motivated for the #WorldBaseballClassic.#Cuba #BaseBall #CubaBaseball pic.twitter.com/QNve7fAhnN
— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) February 12, 2023
In this way, García follows in the footsteps of Elián Leiva, who is also a pitcher, who joined the team last Friday, thanks to the recently granted permission so that Cuban players with free agent status and residence in the United States could join the team before March 3.
On this last date, players from any nation active in Big Top franchises may join, as established by MLB, a situation that affects figures such as Luis Robert Moirán and Yoan Moncada.
On the other hand, others like Yoenis Céspedes, Erisbel Arruebarruena and Yadil Mujica, because they are free agents, will be able to be with the rest of the Cuban baseball players earlier. Precisely these last two, who have played in Cuba in recent seasons, are expected on the 17th, in accordance with Hit.
With more than a decade of experience in professional circuits, including the MLB —where he spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals—, Onelki García should be a wild card within the pitching staff of the Cuban team, in the opinion of specialists.
After almost two years without pitching due to the pandemic, in 2022 he returned to the mound in Mexico and this winter he did so with the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Republic. Even if he is not already in the prime of his career, analysts believe that his inclusion in the group gives more depth to the staff Cuban pitchers.
The Cuban team, led by the experienced mentor Armando Johnson, will begin its journey in the World Classic on March 8. It will do so as part of group A, which will be based in the Taiwanese city of Taichung, along with the host team, the Netherlands, Italy and Panama.
Before, the island’s team has training sessions and various preparation matches with professional clubs in Japan and also in Taiwan.
