Cuba Gets Ready at the Latinoamericano Stadium

A total of 56 baseball players from throughout the country meet at the Latinoamericano stadium with a view to become part of the Cuban selection that will travel to Europe and Asia starting next October 20 as part of our team’s training for the Third World Baseball Classic to take place in March 2013.

Manager of this group is Víctor Mesa, while the experienced Jorge Fuentes is technical counselor.

The tour of the Antillean players includes games with the national selections of Korea, China Taipei and Japan. This time, 6 catchers, 18 infielders, 9 outfielders and 23 pitchers were called.

Once more, among those summoned are several established players like Ariel Pestano, Yulieski Gourriel, Frederich Cepeda, Michel Enríquez and Norberto González, who were outstanding leading players in the first edition of the Classic in 2006 when Cuba was second best team after losing the last game 10 to 6.

This time the main players who made up the team’s core in the latest events are also in the group, like Alfredo Despaigne, José Dariel Abreu, Rusney Castillo, Bárbaro Arruebarruena, as well as pitchers Fredy Asiel Álvarez and Yadier Pedroso, just to mention some of them.

Here follows the complete list of the summoned players:

Catchers: Ariel Pestano, Frank Camilo Morejón, Yulexis La Rosa, Yosvany Alarcón, Yosvany Peraza and Yenier Bello.

Infielders: José Dariel Abreu, Yordanis Samón, Alexander Malleta, Juan C. Torriente, Andy Sarduy, José Miguel Fernández, Dayán García, Raúl González, Barbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena, Yordan Manduley, Roberto Carlos Ramírez, Luis Yander La O, Yulieski Gourriel, Maikel Castellanos, Yurisbel Gracial, Michel Enríquez, Donald Duarte and Rudy Reyes.

Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne, Frederich Cepeda, Rusney Castillo, Guillermo Heredia, Alexei Bell, William Luis Campillo, Yasmany Tomas, Ariel Sánchez, Edilse Silva La O.

Pitchers: Yadier Pedroso, Odrisamer Despaigne, Dalier Hinojosa, Freddy A. Álvarez, Ismel Jiménez Santiago, Vladimir García, Norberto González, Pablo Millán Fernández, Darién Núñez, Leandro Martínez, Yoanni Yera, Noelvis Estenza, Miguel Lahera, Alexander Rodríguez, Joel Suárez, Lenier Rodríguez, Félix Fuentes Ortiz, Yander Guevara, Yohan Hernández, Yosvani Torres, Erlis Casanova, Julio Alfredo Martínez and Carlos Juan Viera.

Technical Counselor: Jorge Fuentes Fleitas

Manager: Víctor Mesa Martínez

Trainer: Róger Machado Morales

Coach (3rd base): Primitivo Díaz Velásquez; Coach (1st base): Ángel Castillo Soto

Pitching trainers: Juan de Dios Peña Calibrán, Raciel Sánchez Echevarria