Part of the Cuban team’s 60-man roster for the upcoming Premier on November 12, is currently training at the Latinomericano Stadium in Havana, where in addition to training they will play a couple of in intersquad games before leaving on October 16 for Korea.
The pitching coach of this team, as in previous international events, is Pedro Luis Lazo from Pinar del Río, who is assisted by José Elosegui, who was also on the coaching staff for the World Classic. The fabeled pitcher offered us a preview of the pitching staff for the Premier 12 in an interview with Radio Rebelde journalist, Guillermo Rodríguez Hidalgo.
“We are trying to put together the best possible pitching staff, there are new guys with quality arms and some veterans who I think are going to help us a lot, for me the strength of the team will be its pitching staff,” Lazo began by saying regarding the 25 pitchers in camp.
The Premier 12 team must be made up of 28 players, and the WBSC requires a minimum of two catchers and at least 13 pitchers on the final roster. In recent tournaments it has been the pitching that has performed best, taking into account that the hitting has been practically absent in past events.
“We have around 5-6 left-handers in camp, something that is important, especially so that the batters can get quality at-bats in camp, because I imagine that they will face quite a few left-handed pitchers in the Premier League. On the team, we will have 3-4 left-handers on the final roster,” Lazo added.
“I think it is no secret at all that Liván Moinelo is the team’s ace for the tournament. He is very optimistic, excited and waiting for the moment to come and shine in the competition.” Moinelo has had an excellent first season as a starter in the Nippon League with the Soft Bank Hawks. In 24 games he has an 11-5 record and an ERA of 1.94 in 158.0 innings of work . He has struck out 151 and walked 46.
“We also have Ronald Bolaños who could be one of the starters, Yusniel Padrón-Artiles could be another, Frank Luis Medina, Raymond Figueredo and some other guys if they make the team can fill that role. To close we have Raidel Martínez and Yoan López,” Lazo concluded with what they have planned for this 3rd edition of the Premier 12.