“Cuba will be on the field in March”,that’s what Jim Small, president of the World Baseball Classic, said during the official trophy presentation in Puerto Rico about Cuba’s participation in upcoming edition of the tournament.
Small confirmed that Cuba will receive the visa to play in the event and that the national team will be present at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This comes after months of speculation on whether or not the island would receive their visas and a clearance from OFAC to play in the upcoming tournament this March in San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
Earlier this month Cuba cleared up its preparation leading up to the WBC as per Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, the Cuban Federation president:
“The Serie de Las Américas that begins on January 23 in Panama, and a team will participate with players from the Serie Nacional who have been pre-selected for the World Baseball Classic. Ciego de Ávila will participate in the Caribbean Series in Venezuela, and the champion of the 64th National Baseball Series will attend the Champions League, which is scheduled to take place in April.”
“If the Copa América does take place, although nothing is official yet, it should be between September and November 2026, and it should be a qualifier for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games,” assured Juan Reinaldo Pérez. Now Cuba must also submit its 50-man roster to the organizing committee, if it hasn’t already.
Cubans non- affiliated with the Cuban Federation that have made themselves available for the World Baseball Classic:
Outfielders:
- Andy Pagés – (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Víctor Labrada – (Seattle Mariners)
- Albert Lara – (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Infielders:
- Zach Neto – (Los Angeles Angels)*
- Andy Ibáñez – (FA)
- Yoan Moncada – (FA)
- Ernesto Martínez Jr. – (FA)
- Yiddi Cappe – (Miami Marlins)
- Alexander Vargas – (Cincinnati Reds)
- Jean Walters – (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Catchers:
- Omar Hernández – (Kansas City Royals)
Pitchers
RHP
- Daysbel Hernández (Atlanta Braves)
- Ryan Fernández (St. Louis Cardinals)*
- Lázaro Estrada (Toronto Bluejays)
- Rafael Sánchez (Toronto Bluejays)
- Yariel Rodríguez (Toronto Bluejays)
- Emmanuel Chapman (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Denny Larrondo (FA)
- Pedro Santos (FA)
- Jorge Marcheco (Los Angeles Angels)
- Silvano Hechavarría (Toronto Bluejays)
- Josimar Cousin (Indios de Mayagüez)
- Osiel Rodríguez (Bravos de León)
- Jan Carlos Hechavarría (Los Angeles Angels )
- Robert Roilan Portuondo (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Elian Leyva (FA)
LHP
- Daviel Hurtado (New York Mets)
- Darien Núñez (FA)
- Julio Robaina (Algodoneros de Guasave)
- Francis Texidó (Los Angeles Angels)
- Randy Labaut (FA)
- Andrew Pérez (Charros de Jalisco)*
*Cuban-American