Cuba, which has the possibility of meeting Korea at the World Baseball Classic (WBC), has unveiled a splendid national team entry.
The Cuban Baseball Federation announced the roster of the WBC team to be held in March through its official website on the 26th (Korean time). The team consisted of 14 pitchers, 2 catchers, 8 infielders and 6 outfielders.
Cuba, which has a reputation as a baseball powerhouse, did not achieve much in the WBC. After finishing runner-up in the first competition held in 2006, they failed to advance to the semifinals in three consecutive competitions. As more and more high-level players defected to the major leagues, the competitiveness of the national team gradually weakened.
However, in this tournament, major league exiles were denied permission to participate in the Cuban national team. The most noteworthy players are Yoann Moncada and Louis Roberts (White Sox), who are active in the major leagues.
Both Moncada and Robert are active as key players for the White Sox. Moncada recorded a batting average of .253 (613 hits in 2424 at-bats), 82 homers, 299 RBIs, and an OPS of .759 in 643 major league games. Robert is active with a batting average of .289 (248 hits in 857 bats), 36 homers, 130 RBIs, and an OPS of .808 in 222 games.
In addition, many major league players such as Roenis Elias (Cubs), Ronald Bolanos (Kansas City), and Andy Ibanez (Texas) joined the Cuban national team. 먹튀검증
There are many players who are active in Japanese professional baseball. Rivan Moinello (Softbank), Rydel Martinez, Yariel Rodriguez, Frank Alvarez (Chunichi), Ariel Martinez (Nippon Ham) were included in the national team, and Softbank former players Yurisbel Gracial and Alfredo Despine were also included in the national team roster. was named in
Yasiel Puig, who played for Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League last season, was nowhere to be found on the national team roster. After finishing the season in Korea, Puig, who played in the Dominican Winter League and tried to join the national team, was injured and ended the season early. Cuba did not include Puig on their 50-man interest list and ultimately did not select him in the final squad.
Meanwhile, Aroldis Chapman (Kansas City), who is regarded as the best closer in Cuba, became a hot topic as he was on the interest list of the British national team, not Cuba. Chapman was born in Cuba, but holds British citizenship as his grandparents were from Jamaica during the British colonial era. The WBC, which has relatively free nationality regulations, can obtain national qualifications according to the lineage of parents or grandparents.
Cuba was drawn in Group A of the WBC in Taichung, Taiwan. They compete against Taiwan, the Netherlands, Italy and Panama to advance to the quarterfinals. If they finish second or higher in their group, there is a possibility of meeting Korea in the quarterfinals held in Tokyo, Japan.