FUKUOKA, Japan — World No. 9 Puerto Rico, runner-up of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and manager Edwin Rodriguez are back on the world stage, as one of the seven National Teams from the Americas qualified for the inaugural WBSC Premier12.
Warming up for the Premier12, Puerto Rico will play No. 1 Japan in a pair of games on November 5th and 6th in Fukuoka
Puerto Rico veteran pitcher Miguel Martinez (PUR Doble AA – Cangrejeros de Santurce) and teammate Ramesis Rosa lead the pitching staff with MLB prospects Randy Fontanez (Los Angeles Dodgers), and Emilio Pagan and Nicholas Valenza, who both play in the Seattle Mariners organization.
Former major leaguer Omir Santos (Cleveland Indians) will see duty as catcher. Puerto Rico is taking 15 pitchers to Premier12.
On defense, Puerto Rico carries plenty of talent with several MLB prospects such as Alexis Pantoja (Cleveland Indians), Richard Thon (Toronto Blue Jays), Juan Silva (Cincinnati Reds) and Jay Gonzalez (Baltimore Orioles).
Puerto Rico will open the Premier12 against World No. 11 Italy on November 10th. In the World Baseball Classic 2013 Puerto Rico edged Italy 4-3, however Italy once defeated Puerto Rico 16-1 in 1980 World Cup.
