Cuban pitcher Naykel Cruz will not be participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The information was confirmed by the Orioles organization via email to our news outlet. Cruz had previously been denied medical insurance coverage, which complicated his participation. Cruz had also previously said he would not be participating in the World Baseball Classic, but recently changed his tune.
Despite rumors circulating about his intention to remain in the tournament, the team’s official statement makes it clear that he will not have the organization’s approval. And if things could not get any worse for the young pitcher, not only will he not be able to play in the WBC, but he also lost his agent due to the fact that she (Gladys Alonso) does not represent players who play for the regime’s World Baseball Classic team.
I reached to Alonso for a comment about the situation and she had this to say,” Any player I represent will not play for Cuba, as a child of Cuban exiles I will not be complicit in helping the Cuban Federation or government in any way until the country is free and democratic.“
During his four seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, Cruz posted a 4.18 ERA with a strikeout and walk rates of 19.1% and 15.4%, Armed with 94-95 fastball from the left side and a decent array of breaking pitches Cruz has all the tools to make it too the big leagues.
Cruz was part of Cuba’s WBC team in 2023 and has seen professional action in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Piratas de Campeche where he had an 0-2 record and 9.82 earned run average in seven appearances, one as a starter. In the DOSL he has a 3-1 mark and 2.63 ERA in also seven appearances.
Cubans that have said no to Cuba for the WBC in the MLB system:
Cesar Prieto IF (St. Louis Cardinals)
Dairon Blanco OF (Kansas City Royals)
Adrián Morejon LHP (San Diego Padres)
Luis Robert Jr OF (Chicago White Sox)
Edgar Quero C (Chicago White Sox)
Cionel Pérez LHP (Baltimore Orioles)
Yandy Díaz 1B (Tampa Bay Rays)
Raisel Iglesias RHP (Atlanta Braves)
Jorge Soler OF (Los Angeles Angels)
Aroldis Chapman LHP (Boston Red Sox)
Victor Labrada OF (Seattle Mariners)
Yosver Zulueta RHP (Seattle Mariners)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Silvano Hechavarría RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Toronto Bluejays)
Andy Pagés OF (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Andy Ibáñez IF (Detroit Tigers)
Jorge Marcheco RHP (Athletics)
Yunior Tur RHP (Athletics)