The Cuban Baseball Federation announced a 50-man preliminary roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, which includes nine players from Cuba's WBSC Premier12 squad, which finished 10th in the 2019 edition.
Yosvany Alarcon, Frank Abel Alvarez, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Alfredo Despaigne, Yurisbel Gracial, Raidel Martinez, Liván Moinelo, Roel Santos and Yoennis Yera were all part of Cuba's WBSC Premier12 2019 team.
The roster also includes two active Major League Baseball (MLB) players: infielder Yoan Moncada and outfielder Luis Robert, both from the Chicago White Sox.
While Andy Ibáñez (infielder, Detroit Tigers), Lázaro Armenteros (outfielder, Oakland A'S), Ronald Bolaños (right-handed pitcher, San Diego Padres), Lorenzo Quintana (catcher and first baseman, Miami Marlins), Luis Miguel Romero (pitcher, Oakland A's), Roenis Elias (left-handed pitcher, Seattle Mariners) are currently under contract with MLB organizations,
Veteran slugger Yoenis Céspedes has appeared in 834 MLB games over an eight-year career with the Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets
Right-handed pitcher Yoán López is under contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and played for the Arizona Diamondbacks of MLB from 2018 to 2021.
Left-handed pitcher Onelki García has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers of MLB in 2013 and the Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers of NPB in 2018.
Infielder Yadil Mujica played at the Triple-A level for the New York Yankees in 2012. Shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena played at the Double-A level for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016.
Pitchers Liván Moinelo, Yoanni Yera and Raidel Martínez; catcher Yosvany Alarcón infielder Yurisbel Gracial; outfielders Alfredo Despaigne and Roel Santos (pictured above) participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Arruebarrena, Despaigne and Ibáñez participated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
The PRELIMINARY ROSTER
Armando Mandy Johnson will manage Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. His staff includes Germán Mesa (bench coach), Pedro Lazo (pitching coach), José Elósegui (bullpen coach), Orestes Kindelán (hitting coach), Rafael Muñoz (third base coach), Armando Ferrer (first base coach).
The available players will open camp on Monday, 15 January.
World No. 8 Cuba will compete from 8 to 13 March in Group A in Taichung, Taiwan, and face No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 12 Panama and No. 16 Italy.
Before the World Baseball Classic opens, the participating National Teams will play two exhibition games against local teams in Taichung.
