The Cuban presence in the Chinese Professional Baseball League continues to grow. In recent days, plenty of highly credible media outlets such as Francys Romero and Swing Completo reported an initial list of seven Cuban players who had reached agreements with teams in China’s professional baseball league.
Subsequently, sources close to the signing process confirmed the addition of four more players:
Randy Cueto (pitcher)
Yoelkis Guibert (outfielder)
Andy Cosme (catcher)
Henry Quintero (infielder)
This brings the group to 11 players:
DH Alfredo Despaigne
OF Yasiel González
OF José Noroña
Fher Cejas
RHP Andy Vargas
RHP Frank Herrera
RHP Yankiel Mauris
In addition, our outlet has learned that Havana-born pitcher Pavel Hernández will also play professional baseball in China, meaning the Cuban representation in the league could be even larger.
The Chinese Professional Baseball (CPB) league launched its inaugural season on January 1, 2026. Organized by Shanghai-based CoolBang Sports, this private, corporate-backed initiative features 6 teams playing across Spring and Summer schedules to boost fan engagement and market-driven professional baseball in China
League Structure and Teams
- Inaugural Teams: Includes clubs like the Shenzhen Bluesox, Xiamen Dolphins, Changsha Want Want Happy, Fuzhou Sea Knights, and Shanghai Dragons.
- Roster Rules: Each team carries 30 players, mandated to include a mix of at least 10 mainland Chinese and 10 Taiwanese players.
- Operations: Co-exists alongside the older, state-administered China Baseball League (CBL)
The formation of the league was announced on 28 September 2025. The CPB’s first draft was held on 26 November 2025, during which the five founding teams selected 57 players from Greater China and overseas.
Prominent Taiwanese and international baseball figures were announced to have joined the league, including Lu Wen-sheng, Dae-sung Koo, and Ray Chang, who were selected as managers for the Fuzhou Sea Knights, Shanghai Dragons, and Shenzhen Bluesox respectively.
The league held its first overseas scout tryouts in Miryang, South Korea in May 2026, with roughly ten players entering into contract negotiations with CPB teams.