Cuba announce 28-player roster for WBSC Premier12
World No. 9 Cuba announced their 28-player roster for the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS.
The 10th-placed team from five years ago has named three catchers, seven infielders, five outfielders and 13 pitchers.
PITCHERS (13) Liván Moinelo Pita, Raidel Martínez Pérez, Leodán Manuel Reyes Lugo, Yoennis Yera Montalvo, Geonel Gutiérrez Jiménez, Yankiel Mauris Gutiérrez, Frank Abel Álvarez Díaz, Raymond Figueredo Cruz, Andy Vargas Lescaille, Frank Luis Medina García, Darío Sarduy Medina, Yusniel Padrón Artiles and Pavel Hernández Bruce.
CATCHERS (3) Andrys Pérez García, Andy Yaniel Cosme Oliva and Rafael Viñales Álvarez.
INFIELDERS (7) Ariel Martínez Marrero, Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena Escalante, Christian Leandro Rodríguez García, Yoan Moncada Olivera, Roberto Súliban Baldoquín Martínez, Yadil Orestes Mujica Díaz and Jean Harvi Walters Valdés.
OUTFIELDERS (5) Yoelkis Guibert Steven, Lázaro Robersy Armenteros Arango, Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez, Roel Santos Martínez and Yadir Drake Domínguez.
Third baseman Moncada is the best-known player on the roster. He has 747 Major League Baseball (MLB) games, including 12 in the 2024 season. Shortstop Arruebarruena also has MLB experience. Outfielder and team captain Alfredo Despaigne is a Beijing 2008 Olympian and a four-time Japan Series winner. They both represented Cuba in the WBSC Premier12 2019. Ariel Martinez hit 13 home runs for the Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Moinelo is the ace of the pitching staff. He competed in the Japan Series with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Raidel Martinez picked 43 saves for the Chunichi Dragons. Frank Alvarez also pitched out of the Chunichi Dragons bullpen.
Cuba's staff has more international experience. Figueredo helped Parma win the Italian Baseball League, veteran left-hander Yera played for Olmecas de Tabasco in the Mexican League, 18-year-old left-handed prospect Sarduy is in the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) farm system, and Pavel Hernandez split time between the Cuban National League and Aguascalientes in the Mexican League.
Manager Armando Johnson's staff includes former international baseball giants such as German Mesa, Pedro Lazo, and Orestes Kindelan and seasoned Cuban National League coaches such as Rafael Munoz, Juan Manrique, Humberto Guevara, Armando Ferrer, and Jose Elosegui.
The WBSC Premier12 will open with Group A action on November 9 in Guadalajara and Tepic, Mexico. The hosts and world No. 2 Mexico will face No. 4 Venezuela, No. 5 USA, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 8 Puerto Rico and No. 10 Panama.
Cuba will compete in Group B and face No.1 Japan, No. 2 (tied with Mexico) Chinese Taipei, No. 6 Korea, No. 12 Dominican Republic and No. 15 Australia.