The Cuban Baseball Federation has revealed the Cuban National Team roster for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier, which will award one ticket into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Manager Armando Ferrer has selected 26 players to compete in the Olympic qualifier in Florida.
Pitchers (10): Lázaro Blanco (Granma), Carlos Juan Viera (Las Tunas), Yoenni Yera (Matanzas), Yariel Rodríguez (Camagüey), Andy Rodríguez (Industriales), Bryan Chi (Industriales), Livٞán Moinelo (Pinar del Río), Raidel Martínez (Pinar del Río), Frank Álvarez (Pinar del Río), and Yudiel Rodríguez (Las Tunas)
Catchers (3): Yosvany Alarcón (Las Tunas), Iván Prieto (Granma), and Rafael Viñales (Las Tunas)
Infielders (7): Lisbán Correa (Industriales), Yordanis Samón (Granma), César Prieto (Cienfuegos), Erisbel Arruebarruena (Matanzas), Yordan Manduley (Holguín), Yadil Mujica (Matanzas), and Dayán García (Artemisa)
Outfielders (6): Alfredo Despaigne (Granma), Frederich Cepeda (Sancti Spíritus), Roel Santos (Granma), Yadir Drake (Matanzas), Raico Santos (Granma), and Guillermo Avilés (Granma)
The core of the national team is the same as the one used at the WBSC Premier12 2019, where Cuba did not get past the first round. The most notable addition is top pitching prospect Bryan Chi.
World No. 7 Cuba will compete in Group B and will face in the opening round No. 8 Venezuela on 31 May, No. 13 Canada on 2 June and No. 14 Colombia on 3 June.
Group A includes world No. 2 USA, the top-ranked team in the qualifier, No. 10 Dominican Republic, No. 11 Puerto Rico and No. 15 Nicaragua.
Ferrer's staff includes Alexander Ramos, José Hernández, Carlos Martí, Raciel Sánchez and Jesús Salgado.
(Top photo of Cuban reliever Liván Moinelo: WBSC)
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