The Cuban baseball diaspora is spread across nearly every corner of the world, shining in some of the most demanding leagues and even representing other national teams. Beginning in 2013, qualification tournaments have been held before each World Baseball Classic to determine the remaining spots available in the competition. A considerable number of Cuban-born players have taken part in these events.
During the qualifiers for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Cuban participation was significant, with 14 players and two coaches involved. Most of them represented Spain, which featured eight Cuban-born members: veteran Remigio Leal, Eduardo “Eddie” Morlan, Adrián Nieto, Bárbaro Cañizares, Néstor Pérez Jr., Yunesky Sánchez, Yasser Gómez, and coach Manuel “Manny” Crespo.
Another European team, France, included three Cubans on its roster: Leonel Céspedes, Ernesto Martínez Sr., and Andy Paz. Brazil competed with two Cuban-born players, outfielder Juan Carlos Muñiz and pitcher Ernesto Noris. Completing the list were Germany with pitcher Enorbel Márquez, the Czech Republic with player Basilio Hernández, and Nicaragua with pitching coach Antonio “Boricua” Jiménez.
In Group 1, held in Jupiter, Florida, in 2012, Spain secured one of the two qualifying spots while France was eliminated. In Group 2, played in Regensburg, Germany, neither the host nation nor the Czech Republic achieved qualification. In Group 3, held in Panama City, Brazil exceeded expectations by earning a berth ahead of Panama, while Nicaragua failed to advance from the same section.
Spain Always Featured Several Cuban Players in the WBC Qualifiers
The number of Cubans representing other countries in the qualifiers for the fourth World Baseball Classic (2017) rose to 18. Once again, Spain led the way with seven representatives: Rogelio Armenteros, Carlos Sierra, Rolando Meriño, Yunesky Sánchez, Yasser Gómez, manager Manny Crespo, and Néstor Pérez Jr., now serving as a coach.
Brazil and France also had strong Cuban representation, with four players each. For Brazil, Noris and Muñiz returned alongside Ángel Luis Cobas and Irait Chirino. France featured Leonel Céspedes, Andy Paz, and the historic father-son duo of Ernesto Martínez Sr. and Ernesto Martínez Jr.
The remaining Cuban representatives were Enorbel Márquez with Germany and the surprising Great Britain squad, which included the lesser-known but highly accomplished Rei Martínez and Maikel Azcuy, both of whom enjoyed outstanding careers in British baseball.
In Group 2, held in Mexicali in 2016, Germany failed to qualify. Cuban representation was even greater in Group 3, hosted in Panama City, but neither Spain nor France managed to secure a berth. A similar fate befell Brazil and Great Britain in Group 4, played in Brooklyn, New York.
There was a notable decline in Cuban participation in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with only nine Cubans involved. Once again, Spain led the group with seven representatives: manager Néstor Pérez Jr. and players Rogelio Armenteros, Armando Dueñas Jr., Yoanner Negrín, Orlando Rodríguez, and brothers Omar and Frank Hernández.
As usual, Enorbel Márquez represented Germany, while France featured Daniel Rosell. Interestingly, all of them competed in Group A, held in Regensburg, Germany, in 2022, but the available spots ultimately went to Great Britain and the Czech Republic.
Currently, Group A of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is being contested in Taipei. Spain, once again boasting strong Cuban representation, features Félix Stevens, Frank Hernández, Pablo Luis Guillén, Yoanner Negrín, Orlando Rodríguez, Elián Leyva, and coach Néstor Pérez Jr.
To conclude, two interesting facts stand out. Rolando Meriño and Elián Leyva are the only players who have represented Cuba in a World Baseball Classic (2009 and 2023, respectively) and later played for another national team in a WBC qualifier. In addition, Néstor Pérez Jr. is the only Cuban to have participated in every edition of these qualifying tournaments, first as a player and later as a coach.