Alexander Vargas recently confirmed on the Cuba Grand Slam Podcast (Episode 83) his availability to play with Cuba in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Matanzas native is a member of the New York Yankees and currently plays in Class A+ with the Hudson Valley Renegades. In 2025, he began his season in Double A with the Somerset Patriots.
The 23-year-old switch-hitter had and excellent spring. In 13 games, he hit .571 (14 AB; 8 H), with five extra-base hits (2 2B and 3 HR) and drove in seven runs. Vargas signed for $2.5M in 2018, ranking him the 11th highest paid international prospect of that period, according to MLB. In 2025 (A+ and AA), he’s batting .239 (180 AB; 43 H), with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 24 RBIs.
With the recent addition of Omar Hernández and Andrew Pérez also giving Cuba a yes as well the island’s WBC team is starting to take shape. Expect other minor league prospects, Major League players and also Mexican League players to make themselves available for the upcoming tournament.
What a Cuban team looks like so far for the WBC:
Lineup:
- Ernesto Martínez 1B
- Andy Ibáñez 2B
- Ariel Martínez DH
- Yoán Moncada 3B
- Andy Pagés CF
- Yoelkis Guibert RF
- Omar Hernández C
- Alexander Vargas SS
- Roel Santos LF
Rotation:
- Liván Moinelo LHP
- Rafael Sánchez RHP
- José Ramón Rodríguez RHP
- Naikel Cruz LHP
- Pavel Hernández RHP
Bench:
Yiddi Cappé IF
Andrys Pérez C
Christian Rodríguez SS
Yurisbel Gracial Util
Bullpen:
Raidel Martínez RHP
Darién Núñez LHP
Dario Sarduy LHP
Daysbel Hernández RHP
Frank Abel Álvarez RHP
Andrew Pérez LHP*
*Cuban-American