Sources tell me that the Cuban Baseball Federation will allow ex-national team member Yasmany Tomás to be part of the country’s squad for the Central American and Caribbean Games held in San Salvador, El Salvador late in the month of June. This put to rest the long running rumors that the slugger was returning to the island to play in the Cuban National Series.
Tomás who was the MVP this winter in the Mexican Winter League (LA ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico) after hitting .328 with 10 homeruns, 57 RBIs and slashing .383/.510/.893 will more than likely replace the bat of Alfredo Despaigne who is slated to head to Japan in the coming weeks to join the SoftBank Hawks.
Fuentes me dicen que es casi seguro que Yasmany Tomás jugará en los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe con Cuba. El toletero realizó una sesión de entrenamiento hoy en el Estadio Latinoamericano de La Habana.#pelotacubana #JCC
📷 Por la goma pic.twitter.com/NehTW6CT46
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) May 31, 2023
The ex-big leaguer trained today in Havana’s Latinoamericano Stadium in front of the Cuban press garbed in the national teams’ training gear, giving the press on hand more of an indication that he will surely be part of the tournament team for Cuba.
Tomás is not only playing with the national team, but also let it be known that he was to play with his old squad, Havana’s Industriales. During his five Series Nacionales he hit .290 with 39 homeruns and 151 RBIs. The first baseman announced his interest in playing with Cuba in this year’s World Baseball Classic, but was snubbed by the island for the event.