Photo: Roberto Morejón
The Cuban national team will make it’s tournament debut against the Dominican Republic in the Premier 12 tomorrow at 5AM with hopes of stunning their Caribbean island neighbors. For the Antilleans experienced lefty Yoennis Yera will take the hill.
In a lineup that almost identical to the one it fielded in the World Baseball Classic (Luis Robert being the only absence), expect Cuba to score plenty of runs in the tournament and with a very rigorous preparation schedule against teams from the CPBL, KBO and other Asian circuits expect the Cuban team to be in top physical for tomorrow’s contest.
Replacing Robert in centerfield will be the talented Yoelkis Guibert who is a step down from the talented White Sox’s outfielder, but should be fine for the tournament that is also a step down in the level of pitching these hitters will face. Yadir Drake,Alfredo Despaigne, Ariel Martínez, Erisbel Arruebarrena and Yoan Moncada will provide plenty of artillery for Cuba.
One thing that could be troublesome for the Cubans is the starting pitching and middle relief. Yera who did not pitch in the WBC, although he is on the roster will be your number two starter, this leaves the cupboard bare. Gone are Onelki García, Miguel Romero, Ronald Bolaños and Yariel Rodríguez and their replacements on the roster such as Raymond Figueredo, Yusniel Padrón, Yankiel Mauris and Geonel Gutiérrez are not an upgrade by a long shot.
Cuba’s bench that includes Jean Walters, Lázaro Armenteros, Christian Rodríguez and Roberto Baldoquín is very talented and versatile. The bench will also give the team many options heading into the late innings. Expect Armando Johnson to eve spot start a few of these players over the course of the tournament.
The back end of the pen with Raidel Martínez, Frank Abel Álvarez, Andy Vargas and Frank Medina could be a team strength. With team’s like Japan, Korea and Taiwan with practically the same team from the WBC, Cuba has their work cut out for them in the group and advancing to the second round of this tournament could also be a long shot for the communist island.
Cuba’s lineup vs DR:
- Roel Santos CF
- Yoan Moncada 3B
- Erisbel Arruebarrena SS
- Alfredo Despaigne DH
- Ariel Martínez 1B
- Yadir Drake RF
- Yoelkis Guibert CF
- Andrys Pérez C
- Yadil Mujica 2B
P. Yoennis Yera