Sources have revealed to our sister page Pelota Cubana USA that right-hander Norge Carlos Vera expressed his availability to pitch for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. The issue is that Vera abandoned a Cuban team in 2019 and that automatically ineligible according to the rules of the Cuban Baseball Federation, which belongs to INDER, which in turn belongs to the Cuban government.
Much is said about the players who say YES or NO to playing for Cuba, but little is said about those who express their availability and are rejected for these reasons. The division and eligibility begin the issue; for these and many other reasons, Cuba is unable to assemble its best talent for a World Baseball Classic.
They say no to the one who abandoned a delegation (Vera), they say no to the Cuban-American (Zach Neto), they say no to the one who abandoned his contract (Yariel Rodríguez being the exception). For the Neto situation rumors say Cuba lost a few players for the upcoming tournament.
In Cuba, to be a General Manager for the World Baseball Classic team, you first have to be a magician. Without evaluating a player’s talent, they first have to put them through so-called filters to determine their eligibility. What else can we expect if the manager was chosen by the Cuban government? Who is really “mixing” sports with politics with these unwritten, yet imposed, limitations?
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)