Three more Cubans have thrown their name into the hat for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, they are infielder Albert Lara of the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna and pitcher Darién Núñez of the Delfines de La Guaira of the Venezuelan Liga Mayor and Osiel Rodríguez who also plays in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol’s Bravos de León.
The left-handed Núñez, who is an ex-big leaguer could definitely help the island’s bullpen with his 95 Mph heater and could be inline for a set-up role for the Cuban squad. This summer in 19⅓ innings pitched for the Delfines the southpaw sports a 6-0 mark and has fanned 20 batters.
In the case of Rodríguez who was once a prospect in the Yankees organization he has had a rough go at it in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. The hard-throwing righty has a 2-0 mark and a 6.46 earned run average with the Aztec squad. In the case of Rodríguez he might be a long-shot to make the team based on the pitching talent that has already said yes to the island.
Lara, who has never been in a big league farm system left the island in 2021 and in four seasons in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol hits a solid .319 over that span. Due to his versatility Lara is a very interesting piece to the puzzle in the infield, but also faces an uphill battle to make the team for the upcoming tournament. With Andy Ibáñez, Yoan Moncada, Christian Rodríguez, Yiddi Cappé, Ernesto Martínez and Alexander Vargas on the roster the infield looks to be full.
Cubans that are available for Cuba for the World Baseball Classic:
Andy Pagés OF (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Yoan Moncada IF (Los Angeles Angels)
Jan Carlos Hechavarría RHP (Los Angeles Angels)
Andy Ibáñez IF (Detroit Tigers)
Daysbel Hernández RHP (Atlanta Braves)
Ernesto Martínez IF-OF (Milwaukee Brewers)
Omar Hernández C (Kansas City Royals)
Alexander Vargas IF (New York Yankees)
Yiddi Cappé IF (Miami Marlins)
Denny Larrondo RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Victor Labrada OF (Seattle Mariners)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Toronto Blue Jays)
Pedro Santos RHP (Athletics)
Emmanuel Chapman RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Randy Labaut LHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Andrew Pérez LHP (Charros de Jalisco)
Albert Lara IF (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Marlon Vega RHP (Free Agent)
Osiel Rodríguez RHP (Bravos de León)
Darién Núñez LHP (Delfines de La Guaira)