Road to Tokyo: Venezuela set to open camp with 28 players in Florida prior to final roster reveal

The Venezuelan National Team will open camp in Florida with 28 potential candidates, ahead of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier, which opens Monday, 31 May.

Manager José Alguacil will cut the roster to the final 26-player limit on Friday, 28 May, the Venezuelan Baseball Federation (FEVEBEISBOL) said.

The following Venezuelan players are set to report to camp:

PITCHERS (15): Adrián Almeida, Henry Centeno, Harold Chirinos, Enmanuel De Jesús, Jhonathan Diaz, Moisés Gómez, Erick Leal, Wilfredo Ledezma, Arcenio León, Andrés Machado, Gabriel Moya, Danny Rondón, Aníbal Sánchez, Andrés Sotillet, Jesús Zambrano.
CATCHERS (3): Robinson Chirinos, Carlos Pérez, Tomás Telis
INFIELDERS (6): Alí Castillo, Luis Castro, Yonny Hernández, Hernán Pérez, Juniel Querecuto, José Rondón
OUTFIELDERS (4): Ramón Flores, Alexander Palma, Diego Rincones, Danry Vásquez

The most notable player on the roster is right-handed pitcher Hanibal Sanchez, a former Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series winner. Left-handed pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma appeared in 192 MLB games from 2003 to 2011, starting 40. Catchers Robinson Chirinos (456 games) and Carlos Pérez (212) have both extensive MLB experience. Also infielder José Rondón and catcher Tomás Telis have appeared in over 100 MLB games.

Alguacil's staff includes bench coach Carlos Garcia, third base coach Liu Rodriguez, pitching coach Mike Alvarez, first base coach and hitting coach Wilfredo Romero and bullpen coach Nestor Rojas.

World No. 8 Venezuela will compete in Group B and open against No. No. 7 Cuba on 31 May. Venezuela will also face in round-robin play 14 Colombia (1 June) and No. 13 Canada (2 June).

Group A features world No. 2 USA, No. 10 Dominican Republic, No. 15 Nicaragua and No. 11 Puerto Rico.