Yesterday the picture got a lot clearer who would be with Cuba in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, players, delegation and coaching staff. With the tournament a little over a week away the visas for the Cuban national team began to be doled out.
The first order of the day was the release of Naykel Cruz by the Baltimore Orioles. The Cuban left-hander was denied permission by the club to participate in the tournament after his insurance carrier denied him coverage for the upcoming completion. The release opened the door for him to play with the squad, but it was later reveled by a source to me that he would not be with the team in the World Baseball Classic.
Later in the day it came to light that certain individuals of the Cuban delegation to the tournament would not be receiving visas to accompany the team for the upcoming tournament. A total of eight members of the Cuban delegation to the 2026 World Baseball Classic were denied visas to the United States. Among them are:
Raúl Fornés (Vice President of INDER)
Juan Reinaldo Pérez (President of the Cuban Baseball Federation)
Pedro Luis Lazo (Pitching Coach)
Gisleydi Sosa (Director of International Relations, INDER)
Judith Langaney (Member of the Federation)
Carlos Del Pino (Scout)
One player was also denied a visa.
Lastly lefty Daviel Hurtado, who is with the Mets organization will not be on Cuba’s final roster for the upcoming VI World Baseball Classic. His absence, just days before the tournament begins, is due to an oblique strain. His recovery will depend on the severity of the injury, which in the most severe cases may require surgery and a recovery period of three to four months.
At the moment, and without further details, the proximity of the Classic makes it impossible for Hurtado to play for the Cuban team. The Havana native was the youngest player on the Cuban roster, at only 21 years old. His exclusion from the team raised several questions on who will replace him on the roster.