Cuba has a storied history in the World Baseball Classic,but in this tournament it might field the country’s weakest team ever. Of the six players on Cuba’s roster for the the upcoming WBC that have Major League Baseball experience only two were on active roster last season.
Luis Miguel Romero is the seventh to be on a roster and was called up to MLB, but did not see action during the 2021 campaign by the then Oakland Athletics. He was also on the team’s taxi squad during that year’s playoffs.
Though the outlook is grim for Cuba in this tournament these six players will be joined by Alfredo Despaigne, Ariel Martínez, Liván Moinelo, Randy Martínez and Raidel Martínez have all either seen action in the NPB or with the minor league squads.
Had Daysbel Hernández, Lázaro Estrada, Andy Ibáñez and Andy Pagés not also decided to join their Major League Teams teams in camp instead of playing for the largest of the Antilles in the World Baseball Classic the team would have four more players with MLB experience on their roster.
Below are the six players on Cuba’s roster that have seen action in the Major Leagues:
Erisbel Arruebarrena (2014)- Arruebarrena signed a 5-year, 25 million dollar deal with the Dodgers in 2014 and debuted that same year with the team from tinsel town. Last WBC he was a key bate for Cuba, hitting a stout .364 and tying for the team lead in homeruns for the tournament with one. Expect Arruebarrena to slide to third base for the tournament.
Alexei Ramírez (2008-2016)– Ramírez saw action over nine seasons with Chicago, Tampa Bay and San Diego, over that span he slashed .270/.307/.392/.700 with 115 homeruns, 593 runs batted in and 143 stolen bases. He was also the runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year in 2008, won a , Silver Slugger Award in 2010 and 2014, while also making the All-Star Game in 2014. Ramírez last saw action in a pro league when he played with the Diablos Rojos de México City of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol.
Yoan Moncada (2016-2025)- Moncada who was a key hitter for Cuba in the 2023 Classic re-upped with the Los Angeles Angels for 1-year and four million dollars. Over his career the infielder has hit .252 with 104 longballs, 374 runs batted in and a .758 OPS. The slugger from Cienfuegos, Cuba without a doubt is the island’s most dangerous bat in the tournament.
Yoan López (2018-2022)- López was supposed to pitch with Cuba in the 2023 Classic but bowed out in the end for an undisclosed reason. The flamethrowing right-hander was a big international signing for the Diamondbacks in 2014 for a 8.27 million dollar bonus. López saw action in five major league seasons with the DBacks and Mets posting a 4.39 earned run average over that span. Expect the hurler to make up the back end of the bullpen in tournament.
Darien Núñez (2021)- The left-hander was part of the 2013 WBC and signed with the Dodgers in 2018 as an international free agent. Núñez made his debut with Los Angeles in 2021 tossing 7⅔ innings and posting a 8.22 earned run average with the club. Last season the southpaw saw action in the Venezuelan Liga Mayor with the Delfines de La Guaira and in 19 games during the regular season had a 3.72 earned run average.
Yariel Rodríguez (2024-2025)- The right-hander becomes the first player abandon a WBC contract and return to see action on the Cuban squad. During 2025, he pitched in 66 games, starting only one game on the season. In his 65 relief appearances, he never exceeded two innings and only pitched two complete innings seven times. Rodríguez finished last season with a 3-2 record, a 3.08 ERA (73.0 IP; 25 ER), 14 holds, and two saves. He struck out 66 batters and held opponents to a .196 batting average. He is not currently on Toronto’s 40-man roster.
Here is the roster for the Cuban team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (sources: Cuban Baseball Federation):
Catchers (2):
Andrys Pérez
Omar Hernández
Infielders (7):
Ariel Martínez (Nippon Ham Fighters)
Erisbel Arruebarruena (Elefantes de Cienfuegos)
Alexei Ramírez (Vegueros de Pinar del Río)
Yoan Moncada (Los Angeles Angels)
Yiddi Cappe (Miami Marlins)
Alexander Vargas (Cincinnati Reds)
Malcom Núñez (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Outfielders (5):
Yoelkis Guibert (Senadores de Caracas)
Roel Santos (Olmecas de Tabasco)
Alfredo Despaigne (Alazanes de Granma)
Yoel Yanqui (Marineros de Carabobo)
Leonel Moas (Toros de Camagüey)
Pitchers (16):
Livan Moinelo (SoftBank Hawks)
Raidel Martinez (Yomiuri Giants)
Randy Martinez (Chunichi Dragons)
Julio Robaina (Tigres de Quintana Roo)
Yoan Lopez (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna)
Pedro Santos (Free Agent)
Naykel Cruz (Baltimore Orioles)
Emmanuel Chapman (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Yariel Rodríguez (Toronto Bluejays)
Denny Larrondo (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Josimar Cousin (Bravos de León)
Osiel Rodriguez (Bravos de León)
Darien Nunez (Free Agent)
Daviel Hurtado (New York Mets)
Luis Miguel Romero (Free Agent)
Frank Abel Alvarez (Free Agent)