Yoel Yanqui confirmed in an interview with Cuba Grand Slam that he has been included in the preliminary roster of 35 players for the Cuban national team heading to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The 29-year-old from Santiago de Cuba has experience in the Minor Leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. He also has professional experience in the Dominican Winter League (Licey and Escogido), the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (Lara, Magallanes), the Venezuelan Major League (Marineros de Carabobo), and in Nicaragua with the Indios del Boer.
For the past two years, he has been playing in Cuba with the Avispas. Since he does not have an active contract with any MLB organization, he will join the team’s preparation early and will be present at Cuba’s training camp in Nicaragua which will take place from February 17 to the 27 and will have for four exhibition games between thw Cuban and Nicaraguan WBC preliminary squads.
What a Cuban team could look like for the upcoming World Baseball Classic:
Lineup:
Víctor Labrada CF (Seattle Mariners)
Andy Ibáñez 2B (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Andy Pagés RF (Los Angeles Angels)
Yoán Moncada 3B (Free Agent)
Ernesto Martínez Jr 1B (New York Yankees)
Yoelkis Guibert LF (Senadores de Caracas)
Ariel Martínez DH (Nippon Ham Fighters)
Omar Hernández C (Kansas City Royals)
Alexander Vargas (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Rotation:
Liván Moinelo LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Yariel Rodríguez RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Caribes de Anzoategui)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Bench:
Yiddi Cappé IF (Miami Marlins)
Andrys Pérez C (Cocodrilos de Matanzas)
Christian Rodríguez SS (Chunichi Dragons)
Yurisbel Gracial Util (Cañeros de Los Mochis)
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)
Emmanuel Chapman RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pedro Santos RHP (Free Agent)
Denny Larrondo RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Randy Martínez LHP (Chunichi Dragons)
Brander Guevara RHP (Cazadores de Artemisa)
Daviel Hurtado LHP (New York Mets)
Julio Robaina LHP (Kansas City Royals)
Silvano Hechavarría RHP (Toronto Bluejays)