WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier: Puerto Rico preliminary roster boasts big league experience

The Puerto Rico Baseball Federation has revealed 23 players of the 26-man roster for the upcoming WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier in Florida, where one ticket to the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be awarded.

National Team manager Juan Igor Gonzalez has named 12 pitchers, 1 catcher, 7 infielders and 3 outfielders:

PITCHERS (12) Jason Garcia, Luis Cintrón, Héctor Acevedo, Luis Leroy Cruz, Jesús Ortiz, Julio Torres, Brian Escanio, Miguel Martínez, Iván Maldonado, Efraín Nieves, Christian Flecha, Freddie Cabrera.
CATCHERS (1) Mervin Meléndez
INFIELDERS (7) Iván De Jesús, Kevin Luciano, Ozzie Martínez, Nelson Molina, Luis Mateo, Rey Navarro, Jesmuel Valentín
OUTFIELDERS (3) Henry Ramos, Edwin Gómez, Noel Cuevas

Pitcher Garcia, infielders Martinez, Valentín, De Jesús, Navarro and outfielder Cuevas all have Major League Baseball (MLB) experience. Catcher Meléndez is a top prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization.

Pitchers Cintrón, Escanio, Maldonado, Nieves, Cabrera, infielders De Jesús, Martinez, Mateo, Valentin and outfielder Gómez played for Puerto Rico in the WBSC Premier12 2019.

The Puerto Rican Baseball Federation will announce the full roster over the next few days.

You might also be interested in:
- Juan 'Igor' Gonzalez confident: "We will qualify"
- Schedule revealed for the WBSC Americas Qualifier
- Tickets on sale for the WBSC Americas Qualifier
- ESPN+ to stream the games of the WBSC Americas Qualifier

The WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier, is scheduled from 31 May to 5 June in The Palm Beaches & St. Lucie County, Florida.

World No. 11 Puerto Rico will start the Olympic qualifier in Group A, together with No. 2 USA, No. 10 Dominican Republic and No. 15 Nicaragua.