Noelvis González has been approved to be Cuba’s next bench coach for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. González who is a pundit of the modern game and sabermetrics. Sources tell me González will hit the floor running and will join the coaching staff in the upcoming Copa América.
Also approved yesterday as per sources was Omar Linares, who has been the hitting coach of the Chunichi Dragons since 2022 has been key in development of players such as Dayán Viciedo and Ariel Martínez. Linares is a clear upgrade over Orestes Kindelàn, who was last WBC’s hitting coach. Only Michel Enríquez would have fit this role better.
I’ve even been told that for now, these are the remaining coaches approved to be on Cuba’s coaching staff for the tournament:
Manager: Germán Mesa
Pitching Coach: Jesús Manso
Hitting Coach: Omar Linares
Bullpen Coach: Pedro Luis Lazo
The addition of Jesús Manso as the pitching coache as also a clear upgrade over the 2023 duo of José Elosegui and Pedro Luis Lazo. Manso is an accomplished professional who has spent plenty of years honing his skills in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and is known for resuscitating plenty of careers, Ronald Bolaños being one of the players he has helped.
Lazo will return to the team as its bullpen coach, which is a role that fits his skillset. Plenty of players have quietly said to me that he was over his head as the pitching ciach for the last World Baseball Classic. Plenty of times during the tournament the one-time Cuban great had no game plan for his opponents, which was glaring during the 14-2 drubbing at the hands at the United States in the 2023 semifinal game.
With the addition of these coaches the Cuban team has clearly upgraded its staff from last tournament and could lure some players that would have probably been a no in recent tournament. Although Cuba might be in the tournament’s toughest group they have greatly helped their chances with these coaching upgrades.