Photo: Yuhki Ohboshi
Humberto Guevara, technical head of the National Baseball Commission, was a guest on the Cubavisión Internacional program ‘Bola Viva’ and offered some declarations regarding the Cuban team for the Premier 12. Guevara confirmed what we broke a few months ago. Since the players in the MiLB System who are not on the 40 man roster of the Major League teams are eligible to be with the Cuban team, as per the FCB.
“We are organizing to see if we can begin preparation in Cuba in the first week of September until October 15. After that date we want to travel to Asia, preferably Korea or Chinese Taipei, to overcome the jet lag in time and also do some matches with teams from both Asian countries.”
“We are in a complicated group, that of Asia, with the three powers of that continent (Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei), Australia and the Dominican Republic. Athletes who are in the MiLB system and are not within 40 are eligible, something that the MLB does allow,” concluded Guevara.
Cuba had the presence of players not based in Cuba or part of the FCB during the World Baseball Classic in 2023, including major leaguers Andy Ibáñez, Luis Robert Jr and Yoan Moncada. Cuba finished in fourth place and their players earned more than 25 thousand dollars. In the Premier 12 there will be two groups of six teams each, the Group Stages of these sections will be played in Chinese Taipei and Mexico, while Japan obtained the hosting rights for a group stage, the Super Round and the final.
The WBSC’s flagship baseball event will feature as usual 12 participants, divided into two groups, after which, after a group stage, the top two finishers from each group will compete in the Super Round. The first and second place teams from the Super Round will battle for gold in the Premier 12 final, while the third and fourth place teams will play for the bronze medal.
Group A will be played from November 10 to 14, while Group B will be played in Taipei from November 14 to 18, with the opening game taking place at the Nagoya Dome, Japan, on November 13. The Tokyo Dome in Japan will host the Super Round from November 21 to 23 in a round-robin format and the medal contest on November 24.
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