Manager Juan Gonzalez names Puerto Rican Olympic qualifier roster

Puerto Rican National Team manager Juan ‘Igor’ Gonzalez has named his 26-athlete roster for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier, which is set to open n Port St. Lucie and West Palm Beach, Florida, on 31 May. 

"The squad is very similar to the past editions, although with some different names, based on defense, good pitchers and a small game as our manager ‘Igor’ González likes," said Efraín Williams González, Puerto Rico Baseball Federation Executive Director.

The Puerto Rican roster features players with MLB experience, including Noel Cuevas, Ozzie Martínez, Jesmuel Valentín, Iván De Jesús, Rey Navarro and pitcher Jason García. The Puerto Rican team has no active Minor League players on the squad.

Puerto Rico has had recent international success, winning of the gold medals at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 2019 Pan American Games. At the flagship 2019 WBSC Premier12, Puerto Rico finished 10th, tied for last place.

The team will travel to Florida on Friday, 28 May, and will open the qualifier against No. 10 Dominican Republic on 31 May, 1 pm, at Clover Field in Port St. Lucie. No. 2 USA and No. 15 Nicaragua complete the Group A of the competition.

Puerto Rico’s only Olympic baseball appearance was at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.