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Writer's pictureRay Otero-Alonso
Jan 25, 20233 min read

V World Baseball Classic | Cuba Announces 2023 World Baseball Classic Roster

Updated: Feb 12, 2023

Seven World Baseball Classic players from the 2017 squad are returning to Team Cuba in 2023, while three are returning from the 2013 roster and two from the 2009 squad



On Wednesday, the Cuban Baseball Federation (CBF) announced the 30-man roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The roster features 14 pitchers and 16 position players, including nine with World Baseball Classic experience.


The roster also features 12 players with Major or Minor League experience (*), including two actively in MLB rosters. There are only two active players on the 40-man MLB rosters: Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert.


Among the returnees from the 2017 World Baseball Classic squad are Liván Moinelo, Yoanni Yera, Raidel Martínez, José R. Rodríguez - designated pitcher pool in 2017 -, Yurisbel Gracial, Alfredo Despaigne, and Roel Santos. Erisbel Arruebarrena, Alfredo Despaigne, and Andy Ibáñez were also members of the Cuban team at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Among the 2009 squad, Céspedes and Despaigne are the only veterans.


Additionally, the Cuban Federation announced the addition of Marlon Vega, Javier Mirabal, Franklyn Quintana, Alexander Valiente, Lázaro Armenteros, Raico Santos, and Pavel Quesada to the designated pitcher and position player pools. They will not immediately join Team Cuba in the first round but will be eligible for designation once they advance.


Cuba Baseball's 2023 World Baseball Classic roster:

Player#, Name, Position, Club, Birthplace/Birthdate


Pitchers (14)

  1. #53, Elián Leyva, RHP, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, La Habana, Cuba/March 17, 1989 (*)

  2. #55, Roenis Elias, LHP, Chicago Cubs, Guantánamo, Cuba/August 1, 1988 (*)

  3. #98, Onelki García, LHP, Águilas de Mexicali, Guantánamo, Cuba/August 2, 1989 (*)

  4. #57, Ronald Bolaños, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Mayabeque, Cuba/August 23, 1996 (*)

  5. #45, Luis M. Romero, RHP, Oakland A's, Guantánamo, Cuba/April 23, 1994 (*)

  6. #89, Liván Moinelo, LHP, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, Pinar del Río, Cuba/December 8, 1995

  7. #92, Raidel Martínez, RHP, Chunichi Dragons, Pinar del Río, Cuba/October 11, 1996

  8. #29, Yariel Rodríguez, RHP, Chunichi Dragons, Camagüey, Cuba/March 10, 1997

  9. #22, Frank Abel Álvarez, RHP, Chunichi Dragons, La Habana, Cuba, January 16, 1999

  10. #58, Yoennis Yera, LHP, Charros de Jalisco, Oct 18, 1989, Matanzas, Cuba/October 18, 1989

  11. #82, José Ramón Rodríguez, RHP, Centrales, Camagüey, Cuba/August 18, 1992

  12. #21, Naykel Y. Cruz, LHP, Centrales, Matanzas, Cuba/April 29, 1999

  13. #83, Carlos J. Viera, RHP, Sultanes de Monterrey, Las Tunas, Cuba/December 6, 1988

  14. #91, Yeudis Reyes, RHP, Cafetaleros, Guantánamo, Cuba/November 17, 1995

Catchers (2)

  1. #17, Andrys Pérez, C, Centrales, Matanzas, Cuba/February 9, 2001

  2. #16, Lorenzo Quintana, C/1B/OF, Tigres del Licey, Pinar del Río, Cuba/March 1, 1989 (*)

Infielders (8)

  1. #40, Ariel Martínez, C/1B/OF, Nippon-Ham Fighters, Matanzas, Cuba/May 28, 1996

  2. #33, Yadir Drake, 1B/OF, Yaquis de Obregón, Matanzas, Cuba/April 12, 1990

  3. #10, Yoán Moncada, 3B, Chicago White Sox, Cienfuegos, Cuba/May 27, 1995 (*)

  4. #77, Andy Ibáñez, 3B, Detroit Tigers, La Habana, Cuba/April 3, 1993 (*)

  5. #5, Yadil Mujica, SS/3B/2B, Centrales, Matanzas, Cuba/January 1, 1985 (*)

  6. #71, Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS, Algodoneros de Guasave, Cienfuegos, Cuba/May 23, 1990

  7. #42, Dayán García, IF, Tabacaleros, Artemisa, Cuba/June 16, 1987

  8. #8, Luis V. Mateo, IF, Centrales, Cienfuegos, Cuba/January 19, 1996

Outfielders (6)

  1. #47, Yurisbel Gracial, 3B/OF, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, Guantánamo, Cuba/October 14, 1985

  2. #52, Yoenis Céspedes, OF, Águilas Cibaeñas, Granma, Cuba/ October 18, 1985 (*)

  3. #54, Alfredo Despaigne, OF/DH, Fukuoka S. Hawks, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba/June 17, 1986

  4. #88, Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox, Guantánamo, Cuba/August 3, 1997 (*)

  5. #1, Roel Santos, OF, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Granma, Cuba/September 15, 1987

  6. #7, Yoelkis Guibert, OF, Agricultores, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba/August 29, 1994


Designated Pool


Pitchers (4)

  1. Marlon Vega, RHP, Portuarios, Mayabeque, Cuba/September 13, 2002

  2. Javier Mirabal, RHP, Centrales, Villa Clara, Cuba/January 19, 1997

  3. Franklyn Quintana, RHP, Tabacaleros, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba/May 21, 1995

  4. Alexander Valiente, RHP, Cafetaleros, Guantánamo, Cuba/October 20, 2002

Outfielders (2)

  1. Raico Santos, OF, Olmecas de Tabasco, Granma, Cuba/April 20, 1994

  2. Lázaro Armenteros, OF, Oakland Athletics, La Habana, Cuba/May 22, 1999 (*)

Infielders (1)

  1. Pavel Quesada, IF, Centrales, Cienfuegos, Cuba/April 23, 1988


Manager Armando Johnson, who manages Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban League, will manage the Cubans. Johnson's coaching staff includes legendary Cuban home run king Orestes Kindelán as hitting coach and pitching coach Pedro Lazo, a two-time World Baseball Classic participant. Germán Mesa (bench coach), Armando Ferrer (first base coach), Rafael Muñoz (third base coach), and José Elósegui (bullpen coach) complete the coaching staff.




2023 World Baseball Classic: When does it begin?


In its fifth edition, the World Baseball Classic will run from March 8 to March 21. Twenty teams have been added to the tournament, with games held in Taichung, Taiwan, Miami-Phoenix in the US, and Tokyo in Japan.


Team Cuba is in Pool A along with Taiwan, Netherlands, Italy, and Panama. Pool play for those teams is from March 8-12 at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium. For Team Cuba, the quarterfinals will be held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The semifinals and finals will be held at the Miami Marlins' loan Depot Park.



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