The Cuban team for the upcoming World Cup of Baseball in Taipei was reduced to 24 players, from the 27, who participated in the Latin American and Caribbean League ten days ago. Outfielder Yohenis CESPEDES, along with pitchers Jose A. GARCIA and Yulieski GONZALEZ were cut and have to stay at home. The pass on GONZALEZ is a surprise, because he won three games at the last World Cup of Baseball in 2005. But Yadel MARTI, who took his place in the rotation, earned his spot with a great performance at a tournament in Rotterdam in August.
Cuba is traveling to Taipei on October 30 and will play several exhibition matches against host Chinese Taipei, Australia and the Netherlands right before the start of the championships. They are placed in group B and with the Dutch team, Germany, Korea, Thailand, Australia, Canada and rival Venezuela.
Updated roster:
Pitcher:
right-handed: Pedro Luis LAZO, Vladimir BANOS, Yuniesky MAYA, Jonder MARTÍNEZ, Yadel MARTI
left-handed: Arley SÁNCHEZ, Aroldis CHAPMAN, Norberto GONZÁLEZ, Adiel PALMA, Elier SÁNCHEZ
Catcher: Ariel PESTANO, Eriel SÁNCHEZ, Yosvany PERAZA
Infielder: Alex MAYETA, Héctor OLIVERA, Rudy REYES, Luis Miguel NAVAS, Eduardo PARET, Yuliesky GOURRIEL
Outfielder: Freddie CEPEDA, Osmani URRUTIA, Giorvis DUVERGEL, Yoandry URGELLÈS, Alfredo DESPAÌGNE
Manager: Rey Vicente ANGLADA