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Writer's pictureRay Otero-Alonso
Jan 6, 20234 min read

Cuban Baseball Federation Announces 2023 World Baseball Classic Preliminary Roster

Seven 2017 World Baseball Classic players return to Team Cuba in 2023, while two other players are back from the 2013 WBC squad, and two others from the 2009 WBC team


The Cuban Baseball Federation (CBF) announced today the 50-man preliminary roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The roster is made up of 25 pitchers and 25 position players and features 9 players with previous World Baseball Classic experience.


The roster also features 13 players with Major or Minor League experience (*), including two actively in MLB rosters. Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert are the only active players on the 40-man MLB rosters, as the Tigers outrighted Andy Ibáñez to Triple-A Toledo today. Lázaro Armenteros, Ronald Bolaños, Yadil Mujica, Lorenzo Quintana, Luis Romero, and Roenis Elias are active or have been active at some point at the MLB level, even when Elias will have the opportunity to be promoted - again - to the Mayors by the Chicago Cubs in 2023. Meanwhile, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Onelki García, Yoán López, and Yoenis Céspedes are former Major Leaguers.


Among the returnees from the 2017 World Baseball Classic squad are Liván Moinelo, Yoanni Yera, Raidel Martínez, Yosvany Alarcón, 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.


Cuba Baseball's 2023 World Baseball Classic preliminary roster: Name, Position, Club, Birthplace/Birthdate

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

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

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

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

  5. Yoenis Céspedes, OF, Águilas Cibaeñas, Granma, Cuba/ Oct 18, 1985 (*)

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

  7. Yoán López, RHP, Yomiuri Giants, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba/January 2, 1993 (*)

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

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

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

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

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

  13. Raidel Martínez, RHP, Chunichi Dragons, Pinar del Río, Cuba/October 11, 1996

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

  15. Yariel Rodríguez, RHP, Chunichi Dragons, Camagüey, Cuba/March 10, 1997

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

  17. Pedro Pablo Revilla, 1B/OF, Chunichi Dragons, Guantánamo, Cuba/March 23, 1999

  18. Guillermo García, 1B/OF, Chunichi Dragons, Granma, Cuba/July 1, 2000

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

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

  21. Roel Santos, OF, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Granma, Cuba/September 15, 1987

  22. Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS, Algodoneros de Guasave, Cienfuegos, Cuba/May 23, 2014

  23. Yoennis Yera, LHP, Charros de Jalisco, Oct 18, 1989, Matanzas, Cuba/October 18, 1989

  24. Yoelkis Guibert, OF, Agricultores, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba/August 29, 1994

  25. Yosvany Alarcón, C, Agricultores, Las Tunas, Cuba/October 15, 1984

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

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

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

  29. José Ramón Rodríguez, RHP, Centrales, Camagüey, Cuba/August 18, 1992

  30. Naykel Y. Cruz, LHP, Centrales, Matanzas, Cuba/April 29, 1999

  31. Dariel Góngora, LHP, Centrales, Camagüey, Cuba/December 9, 1992

  32. Hermes González, RHP, Centrales, Cienfuegos, Cuba/May 26, 1995

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

  34. Andrys Pérez, C, Centrales, Matanzas, Cuba/February 9, 2001

  35. Oscar Valdés, C, Portuarios, La Habana, Cuba/March 27, 1992

  36. Rafael Viñales, C, Agricultores, Las Tunas, Cuba/July 1, 1992

  37. Guillermo Avilés, IF, Agricultores, Granma, Cuba/January 20, 1993

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

  39. Dayán García, IF, Tabacaleros, Artemisa, Cuba/June 16, 1987

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

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

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

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

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

  45. Jonathan Carbó, RHP, Tabacaleros, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba/November 14, 1997

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

  47. Roberto Hernández, RHP, Ganaderos, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba/December 2, 2000

  48. Yeudis Reyes, RHP, Cafetaleros, Guantánamo, Cuba/November 17, 1995

  49. Pavel Hernández, RHP, Portuarios, La Habana, Cuba/December 2, 1996

  50. Alberto P. Civil, RHP, Agricultores, Las Tunas, Cuba/December 1, 1988



Cuba's Previous World Baseball Classic Rosters

2006 World Baseball Classic

2009 World Baseball Classic

2013 World Baseball Classic

2017 World Baseball Classic

Manager Armando ‘Mandy’ Johnson leads Team Cuba's staff. Also, on the coaching staff is Germán Mesa (bench coach), Pedro L. Lazo (pitching coach), José Elósegui (bullpen coach), Orestes Kindelán (hitting coach), Rafael Muñoz (third base coach), Armando Ferrer (first base coach), Humberto Guevara (physical trainer).


Except for those players restricted by their professional clubs, the announced roster will hold its first concentration on January 15 at the Latinoamericano Stadium in Cuba's capital. The shortlisted may also hold a training camp in México and the Dominican Republic. The final roster of 30 players will be announced on February 7th. It is expected that Cuba will leave for Asia around February 15 and play three preparatory matches with teams from the NPB (Japanese Professional League) between February 19 and 23. The announced preparatory games are against the Chunichi Dragons on February 19, the Yomiuri Giants on February 22, and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on February 23

Cubas' World Baseball Classic team will play its first-round games as part of Pool A at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan. Cuba will face the Netherlands at 11:00 pm (ET) on Tuesday, March 7, before taking on Italy on March 9 at 6:00 am (ET), Panama on March 9 at 11:30 pm (ET), and after a day rest, taking host country team, Chinese Taipei, on March 11 at 11:00 pm (ET).



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