With the announcement that Henry Urrutia was joining the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation (FEPCUBE) the flood gates have opened up and plenty of players are lining up to join the ranks of the squad based in Miami. The powers that be are looking for a nice mix of prospects and players from leagues in the Caribbean to build a team to bring home a trophy from Barranquilla and the Intercontinental Series.
So far young talents like Edgar Quero, JC Escarra and Félix Stevens have said yes to the FEPCUBE, while veteran bats like Peter O’Brien, Leonys Martín and Rangel Ravelo give the federation a nice touch of experience and potency in the lineup. Andy Martín (Leonys’ brother) and JC Negret give interesting options off the bench for manager Brayan Peña.
https://twitter.com/CBaseballDigest/status/1737624168051483019?t=355iiAtIA6z5WWO4cQ5A6w&s=19
Ariel Miranda, Yunesky Maya and Odrisamer Despaigne bring a dearth of game experience and still plenty of talent left in the tank to the starting rotation. Pedro Echemendia has also joined the pitching corps and is having a dominant season in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Names like Diosbel Arias, Laz Rivera, Alejandro Rivero, Jorge Martínez and Jimmy Yacabonis have been mentioned as possible additions to the team’s roster but have not been formally invited to join the roster. With more than a month left before the start of the tournament expect more big names to be added to FEPCUBE. With loaded Asian squad, Panamá, Curaçao and Nicaragua headed to this tournament as a tuneup for the Serie del Caribe the team led by Peña is going to have his work cut in Colombia.
"The Warrior" @yuneskymaya81 and @PedroLuis_sachy have personally confirmed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that they will pitch for @fepcube in the Intercontinental Series this January in Barranquilla.
#CubanBaseballDigest #FEPCUBE #patriayvida pic.twitter.com/yQ559qsG3a
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) December 22, 2023
Player confirmed their participation with FEPCUBE:
Pedro Echemendia RHP
Yunesky Maya RHP
Henry Urrutia 1B-DH
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF
Edgar Quero C
Leonys Martín OF
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP
Ariel Miranda LHP
Felix Stevens IF
Juan Carlos Negret OF
Francisley Bueno LHP
Peter O’Brien IF-OF-DH
J.C. Escarra C
Andy Martín OF