The Intercontinental Baseball Series which will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia from January 25 to February 1, 2024 will make history for several reasons. For the first time, a team of Cubans not affiliated with the Cuban Baseball Federation will participate in a prestigious international tournament, setting a precedent for future participations such as in the Caribbean Series.
The most interesting thing is that teams from Cuba and Miami could have coincided in the event, as revealed by Edison Rentería, one of the main organizers. Renteria indicated that an invitation was sent to the Cuban Federation to participate, but they have not yet received a response despite knowing that a Cuban team from Miami would play. “We thought that the presence of a Cuban team would be very good, but we have not had a response and it is already late for this edition. We do not rule out their participation in the future.”
Queremos expresar nuestra gratitud infinita a Edison Rentería y su organización, Team Rentería, por abrirnos las puertas de la Serie Profesional Intercontinental. Estamos verdaderamente agradecidos por la oportunidad, es hora de representar a los peloteros cubanos profesionales pic.twitter.com/yIyyhTDIAS
— FEPCUBE (@fepcube) October 6, 2023
They know that there will be a team of Cubans from Miami,” said Renteria. Orlando “El Duque” Hernández, recently appointed general manager of the Miami team, is already preparing the roster for the squad that manager Brayan Peña will lead. Hernández said he has no problem with participating in the event with the Cuban Federation.
“We are not like them, we do not say who can play or not. We are not opposed to them being in Colombia and participating like everyone else,” said El Duque. “We go without a political agenda, but we know that there is politics with when it comes to the Cuban Federation. We are Homeland and Life ( Patria y Vida).” Renteria hopes that the presence of the Cuban-American team will raise the level of the tournament. He also commented that he wanted to see a Cuban team in what used to be the Latin American Series. “It is a dream come true. I am sure that they will have a very talented team and their presence will elevate the level of play in the tournament,” said Rentería.
Looking at this in hindsight it was a very graceful offer by the tournament’s organizers, because if the shoe were on the other foot the FCB would not be as accommodating. Would a Cuban Federation team add anything to the Intercontinental Series? That is to be determined, but it would most certainly make a must see TV moment. Seeing a free Cuban team against a team from the Communist island to settle which baseball system is better is something that the world has been longing to see.