With Andy Pagés doing a reverse and deciding not to play with Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, reports have come out that two other big leaguers Andy Ibáñez and Daysbel Hernández have decided not to suit up with Cuba as well for the upcoming tournament.
Daniel DeMalas of Swing Completo, who originally reported the Pagés story has cited confidential sources that has told him that Hernández and Ibáñez have decided to follow suit and sit ouf this upcoming WBC as well. This leaves Cuba in a very interesting predicament in one of the WBC’s toughest groups with players deciding left and right to skip the event.
Cuba could be fielding a team similar to the 2017 squad that barely got out of the first round and was trounced in the second round of the competition. Cuba faces the harsh reality of possibility not winning a game and having to qualify for the 2029 tournament, due to the fact that it might finish last in its group.
The star Cuban outfielder was one of the most prominent names on the list of potential players for the Cuban national team. Months ago, Pagés had publicly expressed his willingness to represent Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, but his stance has recently changed.
“I have many things to improve upon, and I need to prepare for a long season. I have to work on what’s most important for my career,” Pagés said in a recent conversation with our sister page Pelota Cubana USA. Pagés now joins other players who have chosen to prioritize the 2026 season, either to establish themselves in Major League Baseball or to recover from injuries sustained during the 2025 season. Among them are Rafael Sánchez, Lázaro Estrada and Jorge Marcheco.
What a Cuban team looks like now for the World Baseball Classic:
Lineup:
Víctor Labrada CF (Seattle Mariners)
Yoelkis Guibert LF (Senadores de Caracas)
Yoán Moncada 3B (Los Angeles Angels)
Ernesto Martínez Jr 1B (New York Yankees)
Ariel Martínez DH (Nippon Ham Fighters)
Yiddi Cappé 2B (Miami Marlins)
Omar Hernández C (Kansas City Royals)
Alexander Vargas SS (Cincinnati Reds)
Roel Santos OF (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Rotation:
Liván Moinelo LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Brander Guevara RHP (Cazadores de Artemisa)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Caribes de Anzoategui)
Silvano Hechavarría RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Bench:
Christian Rodríguez IF (Chunichi Dragons)
Andrys Pérez C (Cocodrilos de Matanzas)
Yurisbel Gracial UT (Conspiradores de Querétaro)
Yoel Yanqui IF-OF (Marineros de Carabobo)
Bullpen:
Raidel Martínez RHP (Yomiuri Giants)
Darién Núñez LHP (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Dario Sarduy LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Emmanuel Chapman RHP (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pedro Santos RHP (Free Agent)
Denny Larrondo RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Daviel Hurtado LHP (New York Mets)
Julio Robaina LHP (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Randy Martínez LHP (Chunichi Dragons)
Osiel Rodríguez RHP (Bravos de León)
Josimar Cousin RHP (Indios de Mayagüez)
Yariel Rodríguez RHP (Toronto Bluejays)