Erik Urbaneja returns to Venezuela’s extended roster for Men’s Softball World Cup 2022

The Venezuelan Softball Federation unveiled an extended list of 18 players who will prepare for the upcoming WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, set to begin on 26 November at Rosedale Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Veteran Erick Urbaneja appears again in the roster after being absent in the Pan American Championship this year in Argentina.

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Una publicación compartida por Fevesoftbol 🇻🇪🥎 (@fevesoftbol.oficial)

World No. 9 Venezuela, which finished in sixth place in the 2019 Men’s Softball World Cup, received a wild card to participate in this year’s edition of the top men’s softball tournament, after a fifth-place finish in the Pan American Championship.

Urbaneja, who is vying for his seventh World Cup appearance, leads a five-pitcher rotation named for the preliminary roster that also includes Eudomar Toyo, Victor Guedez, Frank Ugas and Ronny Jones. Veteran Rafael Flores and Luis Morales are the two catchers.

A total of six players repeat from the 2019 roster that played in Czech Republic in the last World Cup: Flores, Urbaneja, Carlos Ojeda, Engelbert Herrera, Jorge Lima and Rogelio Sequera. 

Venezuela has played in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup nine times, including the last eight editions. Their best performance was in 2013, coincidentally in Auckland, when they earned the silver medal after losing to host New Zealand, 4-1, in the final. They claimed a bronze medal two years later in Saskatoon 2015.