HAVANA, Cuba, May 18 (acn) The Cuban Baseball Federation announced the shortlist of 43 players from which it will emerge a team that will play 19 games against squads from the Canadian-American League, from June 9 to July 2.
The team will be coached by Roger Machado, and the list includes five catchers, 13 infielders, 7 outfielders and 18 pitchers who will join training on Thursday at Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana.
Speaking to the press, Machado was pleased with the list of players, mainly called by the discipline shown on and off the field, and their individual performance in the completed 55th National Series.
Monarch for the second consecutive year leading the Ciego de Avila Tigers, the award-winning manager highlighted the versatility of most members of the squad, which includes many young athletes with potential to be part of the national side soon.
Machado added the final team of 28 players will include 14 pitchers to successfully take on the intense campaign in Canada and the United States, and it will be a challenge for the coaching staff when choosing the rest of the squad and they are forced to call up versatile players on defense.
The tour of 19 games against teams from the Can-Am League will serve as training for the Cuban side towards upcoming international games, highlighting the match against an American university squad, from July 22 to 27 in three Cuban cities.
It is also the beginning of a long training process toward the Fourth World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March 2017.
Below, the Cuban baseball pre-selection:
Catchers: Yosvani Alarcón, Osvaldo Vázquez, Olber Peña, Franklin Aballe, Ariel Martínez.
Infielders: William Saavedra, Guillermo Avilés, Michel Gorguet, Yasiel Santoya, Dainier Gálvez, Juan C. Torriente, Carlos Benítez, Raúl González, Yeniet Pérez, Yunior Paumier, Jefferson Delgado, Yorbis Borroto and Yolbert Sánchez.
Outfielders: Lázaro Ramírez, Luis Robert, Julio P. Martínez, Dayron Blanco, Yohandry Urgellés, Jorge Johnson, Eduardo Blanco.
Pitchers: Freddy A. Álvarez, Yosvany Torres, Yoanni Yera, Vladimir García, Miguel Lahera, Jonder Martínez, Erlis Casanova, Vladimir Baños, Lázaro Blanco, Dachel Duquesne, Yaifredo Domínguez, Yoen Socarrás, Ulfrido García, Yoandry Cruz, José A. García, Liván Moinelo, Héctor Ponce and Frank Medina.
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