Cuba will participate in the Fall Development League in South Korea as part of its preparations for the Premier 12, but in subsequent years an Antillean team will participate in the league annually. It will be something very similar to the annual incursion that were made in the defunct Can-Am League in previous years.
The future Cuban participation in the league was a product of meetings between Cuban Federation and the KBO this summer. Scouts from the league were also in Cuba this summer evaluating young and developed talent on the island in hopes of signing a future slugger or pitcher. Some current Serie Nacional stars and NPB players such as Alfredo Despaigne and Yurisbel Gracial might draw interest from the Korean Baseball Organization.
For the first time in the nation’s history the Cuban National Team will count on the assistance of players from MiLB. Some key names that will play with Cuba are Ernesto Martínez (Brewers), while former prospects like Lázaro Armenteros, Yusniel Padrón and Roberto Baldoquín will be part of the squad. Other interesting names that are on the roster are ex-big leaguers Alexei Ramírez, Yoan López and Darién Núñez.
Cuba should be announcing its 60 man roster for the tournament in the of which 28 will make the squad. In a group that will feature defending champion Japan, Korea and the Dominican Republic, Cuba will have its work cut out and might just have to play impeccable baseball to qualify for the group stage. Cuba did not qualify for the group stage in the 2019 addition of the competition.