The Cuban Baseball Federation announced yesterday its player pool for the Pan-American Games that will be held this November in Santiago de Chile. This pool will be trimmed down to 24 before the start of the tournament. Cuba has won a total of 15 medals in the games (12 Gold, 1 Silver,2 Bronze), yet in the 2019 edition of the tournament the did not medal.
The pool will include will include plenty of players with professional and international experience. Catchers such as Ariel Martínez (Nippon Ham Fighters) plus highly touted prospects like Andrys Pérez and Yunior Ibarra give Cuba a solid trio.
The infield competition will include WBC veterans and ex-professionals like Yadil Mujica (Yankees), Erisbel Arruebarruena (Dodgers), Roberto Baldoquín (Cardinals,Angels) and Yurisbel Gracial (SoftBank Hawks). Guillermo Avilés (Los Mochis) a winter league veteran and Guillermo Garcia (Chunichi Dragons) a highly touted Nippon League prospects round out the very capable infield pool. Raúl González and his plenty of international experience could also sneak on this roster.
In the outfield Yadir Drake ( Leones de Yucatán), Roel Santos (Olmecas de Tabasco) and Yoelkis Guibert (Algodoneros de Guasave) give Cuba a very versatile and powerful pool. Alfredo Despaigne (SoftBank Hawks) will more than likely be the designated hitter. Yosvani Peñalver who has professional experience in the Nicaraguan Winter League could be a wildcard here.
In reference to the pitching staff, Yoennis Yera (Olmecas de Tabasco), Carlos Juan Viera (Olmecas de Tabasco), Pavel Hernández (Rieleros de Aguascalientes), Onelki García (Leones de Yucatán) and Naikel Cruz ( ex-Piratas de Campeche) give Cuba some very solid starters. José Ramón Rodríguez and Jonathan Carbó could also end up in the mix for a spot.
Based on who’s in the pool the bullpen could be the strength of the team. Raidel Martínez (Chunichi Dragons) is the most dominant reliever in the NPB, while Frank Abel Álvarez (Chunichi Dragons) is a top pitching prospect in the Asian circuit. Miguel Romero, an ex-Oakland A’s prospect not only made the all tournament team in the WBC, but also gives Cuba a versatile and reliable arm. Prospects like Franklyn Quintana and Yeudis Reyes give the Antilleans some interesting arms with plenty of upside out of the pen.
With all the talent in its pre- tournament pool expect Cuba to break its four year medal drought in the games and possibly with a few breaks win it 13th Pan-Am gold medal.
Anuncian preselección de #beisbol para Juegos de #Santiago2023
La intención es conformar un elenco con tres receptores, siete jugadores de cuadro, cuatro jardineros y 10 lanzadores. #baseball https://t.co/K2C1mJ1G9m pic.twitter.com/6JSLK46IHx— JIT Deporte Cubano (@jit_digital) August 15, 2023
Catchers
- Yunior Ibarra (SSP)
- Andrys Pérez (MTZ)
- Ariel Martínez (MTZ)
- Andy Cosme (ART)
- Ariel Pestano Jr. (VCL)
- Leonardo Montero (VCL)
Infielders:
- Yasniel González (MAY)
- Osday Silva (SCU)
- Guillermo Avilés (GRA)
- Guillermo Garcia (GRA)
- Yadil Mujica (MTZ)
- Raúl González (CAV)
- Erisbel Arruebarena (MTZ)
- Roberto Baldoquín (LTU)
- Luis V. Mateo (CFG)
- Yordan Manduley (HOL)
- Rodoleisis Moreno (SSP)
- Dayán Garcia (ART)
- Yurisbel Gracial (MTZ)
- Pavel Quesada (CFG)
Outfielders
- Yoelkis Guibert (SCU)
- Roel Santos (GRA)
- Darián Palma (GRA)
- Alexquemer Sánchez (GRA)
- Alfredo Despaigne (GRA)
- Luis González (CMG)
- Yadir Drake (MTZ)
- Yosvani Peñalver (IND)
- Carlos Monier (SCU)
- Héctor L. Castillo (LTU)
Pitchers:
- Yuniesky Garcia (ART)
- Frank A. Álvarez (PRI)
- Raidel Martínez (PRI)
- Erlis Casanova (PRI)
- Yanielquis Duardo (SSP)
- Juan X. Peñalver (IND)
- Raymond Figueredo (IND)
- Rafael O. Perdomo (IND)
- Keniel Ferráz (LTU)
- Rodolfo Díaz (LTU)
- José I. Grandales (SSP)
- Yosiel Serrano (SCU)
- Onelki Garcia (GTM)
- Islay Sotolongo (CFG)
- Alberto P. Civil (LTU)
- Pavel Hernández (IND)
- Luis M. Romero (GTM)
- Yeudis Reyes (GTM)
- Wilber Reyna (SCU)
- José R. Rodriguez (CMG)
- Miguel Neira (SSP)
- Carlos J. Viera (LTU)
- Yoennis Yera (MTZ)
- Naikel Cruz (MTZ)
- Dorvis Navarro (IJV)
- Jonathan Carbó (IJV)
- Franky Quintana (IJV)
- Yankiel Mauri (SSP)
- Renner Rivero (MTZ)
- Geonel Gutiérrez (ART)