Manager Armando Johnson announced during a television show Cuba's 30-player roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
The roster includes five active Major League Baseball (MLB) players, pitchers Ronald Bolaños (Kansas City Royals) and Luis Romero (Oakland A'S); infielders Yoan Moncada (Chicago White Sox) and Andy Ibandez (Detroit Tigers) and outfielder Luis Robert (Chicago White Sox).
Pitchers Raidel Martinez, Frank Alvarez, Yariel Rodriguez; infielder Ariel Martinez, Yurisbel Gracial; outfielder Alfredo Despaigne, currently a free agent, are Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) veterans
Ibañez, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Yoennis Céspedes, Despaigne, Gracial, Roel Santos, Livan Moinelo (pictured above), Raidel Martinez and Yoennis Yera are the only players with previous World Baseball Classic experience.
While a total of 10 players - Alvarez, Arruebarruena, Gracial, Moinelo, Raidel Martinez, Yera, Carlos Viera, Ariel Martinez, Roel Santos, and Yoelkis Guibert - were on Cuba's roster at the Premier12 2019.
Eight players selected for the World Baseball Classic compete in the Cuban Elite League. The champions Agricultores will test the National Team in friendly matches on 29 and 30 January in Havana's historical Latinoamericano Stadium.
The 30-man roster
PITCHERS (14) Elian Leyva, Yoennis Yera, Livan Moinelo, Carlos Juan Viera, Raidel Martinez, Yariel Rodriguez, Frank Abel Alvarez, Naykel Cruz, Roennis Elias, Onelkis Garcia, Jose Ramon Rodriguez, Yeudis Reyes, Ronald Bolaños and Luis Miguel Romero.
CATCHERS (2) Lorenzo Quintana and Andrys Pérez.
INFIELDERS (8) Ariel Martinez, Andy Ibáñez, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Luis Vicente Mateo, Yadir Drake, Yoan Moncada, Yadil Mujica and Dayan García
OUTFIELDERS (6) Roel Santos; Luis Robert Moiran, Yoennis Céspedes, Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelkis Guibert and Yurisbel Gracial
Pavel Quesada, Raico Santos, Lázaro Armenteros, Marlon Vega, Javier Mirabal, Franklin Quintana and Alexander Valiente were selected as reserves.
World No. 8 Cuba will compete in Group A in Taichung, Taiwan, from 8 to 12 March and face No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 12 Panama and No. 16 Italy.
