There’s a strong possibility that Cuba will call on Cuban-Americans for the World Baseball Classic. According to my sources, this measure is still under review and would require the country’s approval. Several Cuban sports, such as soccer, have already called up players with Cuban roots who were born outside the island.
The FCB has also acknowledged that, due to tournament rules, players not born in Cuba will not need to become naturalized citizens to play for the Cuban national team in the upcoming competition. A couple of Cuban-American players such as Andrew Pérez, Jimmy Yacabonis and Ryan Fernández have already let it be known that they would represent the island in the upcoming tournament.
At first there was a confusion that had the country’s federation requiring non-Cuban born players to obtain the island passport, but that has since been cleared up. A source close to the FCB reiterated to me that they are well aware of the policy and working towards a solution. Andrew Pérez has had contact with Cuba and is in the process of being added to the team’s roster.
The addition of such players of Cuba descent would open up a big door, being that their are an array of players to choose from, such as Carlos Rodón, who said this to me in an interview about playing for Cuba in the event, “I actually have not been contacted at all or not that I know of. So I mean, I just have a duty to do for the Yankees. So it’s kind of hard to step away from my team at the moment. So I mean, obviously it would be an honor, but I I would have to to think about it.”
Ryan Fernández also had a bit of interest in playing for the island when I posed him the question, “I mean, it’d be cool opportunity to go play for that team, but they haven’t reached out to me as of yet.” Gauging by the comments of the players and by how the FCB is proceeding in contacting players it seems that the players are more interested in playing for the country than the country is in having them participate in the event.
Lineup:
Víctor Labrada CF (Seattle Mariners)
Andy Ibáñez 2B (Detroit Tigers)
Andy Pagés RF (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Yoán Moncada 3B (Los Angeles Angels)
Ernesto Martínez Jr 1B (Milwaukee Brewers)
Yoelkis Guibert LF (Senadores de Caracas)
Ariel Martínez DH (Nippon Ham Fighters)
Omar Hernández C (Kansas City Royals)
Alexander Vargas SS (Cincinnati Reds)
Rotation:
Liván Moinelo LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Randy Labuat LHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Free Agent)
Bench:
Yiddi Cappé IF (Miami Marlins)
Andrys Pérez C (Cocodrilos de Matanzas)
Christian Rodríguez SS (Chunichi Dragons)
Yurisbel Gracial Util (Conspiradores de Querétaro)
Roel Santos OF (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Bullpen:
Raidel Martínez RHP (Yomiuri Giants)
Darién Núñez LHP (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Dario Sarduy LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Daysbel Hernández RHP (Atlanta Braves)
Frank Abel Álvarez RHP (Free Agent)
Andrew Pérez LHP* (Charros de Jalisco)*
Emmanuel Chapman RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pedro Santos RHP (Oakland Athletics)
Denny Larrondo RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks)
*Cuban-American