The Cuban roster for the WBSC Premier12 2024 world tournament was revealed on Saturday, following Cuba's second match against South Korea in Seoul. This game was part of the teams' preparation for the upcoming World Cup tournament to begin next Saturday.
Cuba's mentor, Mr. Armando Johnson, revealed a squad of 28 men, which includes thirteen pitchers, four of them being left-handed. Notably, the team has welcomed Japanese league standouts Liván Moinelo and closer Raidel Martínez. Mentor Johnson explained that following the absence of pitchers Ronald Bolaños and Yoán López, the decision was made to add right-hander Pavel Hernández to the pitching staff.
The rest of the team is made up of three catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders.
Out of the group that was announced, only three players - pitchers Liván Moinelo and Yoennis Yera, and outfielder Alfredo Despaigne - have taken part in the two previous editions of the tournament. Another five players have previous experience from the 2019 edition of the Premier12, including pitcher Raidel Martínez, infielders Ariel Martínez and Erisbel Arruebarruena, and outfielders Yoelkis Guibert and Roel Santos.
The Cuban team has just arrived in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, and is scheduled to play three warm-up matches on November 5, 6, and 7. Among these games, two will be against the CTBC Brothers on the 6th and 7th as part of the Taichung Shopping Festival. All matches are set to start at 6:35 pm local time, which is equivalent to 5:35 am in Cuba and the Eastern US time zone.
The team will next head to Taipei City with the intention of playing two games against the Chinese Taipei national team participating in the Premier12 tournament.
Both teams, as well as Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the Dominican Republic, are grouped together in Group B for the world tournament. Chinese Taipei will be hosting the preliminary stage of the tournament, scheduled to take place from November 13 to 18.
The Super Round will take place in Tokyo from November 21 to 24, with the group's top two teams progressing to this stage.
South Korea won the inaugural Premier12 title in 2015 and finished second behind Japan in 2019, events in which Cuba finished 6th and 10th, respectively. On both occasions, the Cuban team was eliminated by South Korea.
2024 WBSC Premier12 - Cuba Roster
Pitchers (13): Liván Moinelo Pita (LHP) (2015 y 2019), Raidel Martínez Pérez (2019), Leodán Manuel Reyes Lugo, Yoennis Yera Montalvo (LHP) (2015 y 2019), Geonel Gutiérrez Jiménez (LHP), Yankiel Mauris Gutiérrez, Frank Abel Álvarez Díaz, Raymond Figueredo Cruz, Andy Vargas Lescaille, Frank Luis Medina García, Darío Sarduy Medina (LHP), 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 (2019), Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena Escalante (2019), 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 (2019), Lázaro Robersy Armenteros Arango, Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez (2015 y 2019), Roel Santos Martínez (2019), and Yadir Drake Domínguez.
