With the Premier 12 right slated for November, Cuba has already started recruiting players as per a source close to the situation. The Cuban Federation has spoken to handfull of players in professional baseball and even gotten a yes from Miguel Romero. Expect of few MiLB surprises along the way that could alter the roster’s makeup. Cuban-Americans are allowed to play by the Federation, but I doubt any of them would play for Cuba based on the political ramifications.
Unlike the World Baseball Classic, players that are on a 40-man roster cannot be used in the tournament by the Caribbean nation. For example top prospects like Yanquiel Fernández and Andy Pagés would be ineligible for the tournament based on that rule. Players like César Prieto and Yuli Gurriel would be deemed ineligible by the FCB because of their defections during an international event.
The team’s starting rotation would probably be its strength due to the fact that Miguel Romero committed to the team and you would also have Liván Moinelo, a new converted starter joining José Ramón Rodríguez, Yoennis Yera and Ronald Bolaños in the rotation. There is a slight possibility that Elían Leyva could join the team depending on how the winter league season plays out.
Expect to have a lineup with big bats like Alfredo Despaigne, Roel Santos, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Ariel Martínez and possibly Yasmany Tomás and Yadir Drake.You could see ex-big leaguers Rusney Castillo and Alexei Ramírez on the bench as well as Ex-NPB star Yurisbel Gracial and Chunichi Dragons’ prospect Christian Rodríguez.
The bullpen will have the Nippon League’s best closer in Raidel Martínez, plus NPB prospects Darío Sarduy and Frank Abel Álvarez as well. Hard-throwing Jonathan Carbó and Raymond Figueredo could draw the eyes of the some scouts as well in relief. All-in-all Cuba has enough to make the second round of this tournament and possibly to the latter stages of the tournament.
Fuentes: Miguel Romero jugará con Cuba en el @Premier12.#pelotacubana #Premier12 pic.twitter.com/Eqg7Yx7ZTP
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) February 26, 2024
This is what a Cuban roster could like for the Premier 12:
Probable Lineup:
- Roel Santos CF
- Yoelquis Guibert LF
- Erisbel Arruebarruena SS
- Yasmany Tomás 1B
- Alfredo Despaigne DH
- Yadir Drake RF
- Ariel Martínez C
- Roberto Baldoquín 3B
- Alfredo Rodríguez 2B
Rotation:
- Miguel Romero RHP
- Yoennis Yera LHP
- Liván Moinelo LHP
- Ronald Bolaños RHP
- José Ramón Rodríguez RHP
Bench:
- Rusney Castillo OF
- Yadil Mujica IF
- Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF
- Andrys Pérez C
- Christian Rodríguez IF
- Alexei Ramírez IF-OF
Bullpen:
- Darío Sarduy LHP
- Frank Abel Álvarez RHP
- Raidel Martínez RHP
- Renner Rivero RHP
- Jonathan Carbó RHP
- Pavel Hernández RHP
- Geonel Gutiérrez LHP
- Raymond Figueredo RHP