The mystery and the expectation were finally buried tonight, when the Cuban team for the V World Baseball Classic was announced on a television program, made up of two catchers, eight infielders, six outfielders and fourteen pitchers, all under the direction of by Armando Johnson.
The versatility of the players, the inclusion of 10 Cubans who play in professional leagues in the Caribbean or Major League Baseball (MLB), as well as the ratification of all those hired in the last season of the Japanese Professional League are some of the characteristics of this set.
It is striking that only nine players have previous experience in Clásicos with three returns to these competitions: Andy Ibañez, Erisbel Arruebarruena and Yoennis Céspedes, while Alfredo Despaigne will add his fourth appearance in a fight in which he is the all-time leader in home runs with 7.
The other names that have already visited the grounds of the most important event in world baseball are: Yurisbel Gracial, Roel Santos, Livan Moinelo, Raidel Martinez and Yoennis Yera. In other words, we are in the presence of a team with 21 rookies, although more maturity is appreciated given the presence of men proven in Caribbean or American professional circuits.
Mentor Armando Johnson expressed his satisfaction with the final payroll and thanked all the conditions and facilities given to train, as well as the technical group that accompanies him in this arduous task.
Likewise, a group of reserves that will make the trip to Japan for the preparatory games was announced.
The four-time Olympic champion, Mijain López and the eight-time Paralympic champion Omara Durand, as well as the President of Inder, Osvaldo Vento, the head of the Cuban Olympic Committee, Roberto León Richard, among other executives of the sports organization, were invited to the television program.
NOMINA OF 30 PLAYERS TO THE WORLD CLASSIC 2023.
Receivers (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 and Yoelkis Guibert and Yurisbel Gracial.
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 Rosemary.
Reserves: Pavel Quesada, Raico Santos, Lázaro Armenteros, Marlon Vega, Javier Mirabal, Franklin Quintana and Alexander Valiente.
