The amount of players lining up to play with Cuba in the World Baseball Classic keeps growing day by day. Last week Víctor Labrada, Lázaro Estrada, Alexander Vargas and Yiddi Cappé gave the island nation there commitments. A few days ago sources have confirmed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that Rafael Sánchez, Emmanuel Chapman and Pedro Santos have said yes to the FCB for the upcoming WBC.
Chapman, no relation to Aroldis is a hard righty from Holguín, Cuba in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization has a 5-2 record, two holds and a 3.27 ERA with the Altoona Curve (AA) this season. In 41⅓ innings he has also fanned 39 and sports a nifty 1.23 on the campaign. Expect the hurler to be a key part of the teams bullpen in a long relief or maybe even a spot starter role.
Sánchez is another of the minor league pitchers who has recently expressed his availability to pitch for Cuba in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to sources. The right-handeder is also from Holguín, Cuba currently playing at the Double-A level with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. On June 7, he no-hit the Altoona Curve in a seven inning game.
In Santos’ case he is the least coveted of the bunch and is not guaranteed a roster spot like the others. The Athletics farmhand has a 0-0 record with a 3.68 ERA in Rookie ball and Double-A. The hurler from Sancti Spíritus, Cuba will more than likely be a spot starter and long reliever if he makes the team for the tournament. Cuba will release their 60-man roster in the coming weeks.
What a Cuban team looks like now for the World Baseball Classic:
Lineup:
Víctor Labrada CF
Andy Ibáñez 2B
Andy Pagés RF
Yoán Moncada 3B
Ernesto Martínez Jr 1B
Yoelkis Guibert LF
Ariel Martínez DH
Omar Hernández C
Alexander Vargas SS
Rotation:
Liván Moinelo LHP
Lázaro Estrada RHP
Rafael Sánchez RHP
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP
Pavel Hernández RHP
Bench:
Yiddi Cappé IF
Andrys Pérez C
Christian Rodríguez SS
Yurisbel Gracial Util
Roel Santos OF
Bullpen:
Raidel Martínez RHP
Darién Núñez LHP
Dario Sarduy LHP
Daysbel Hernández RHP
Frank Abel Álvarez RHP
Andrew Pérez LHP*
Emmanuel Chapman RHP
Pedro Santos RHP
*Cuban-American