The National Baseball Directorate officially announced the list of 116 Cuban baseball talents, and in Las Tunas all alarms should immediately jump as only three Leñadores (Lumberjacks) appear on the roll that is already part of the country's Training Center for the 2020-2024 period.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- The trio of young players from Las Tunas is led by infielder Denis Peña, a utility capable of performing successfully in all positions in the infield. The 24-year-old player, who probably defends the shortstop in the 60 National Series, debuted during the 2014-2015 season and has accumulated four campaigns, in which he exhibits an offensive line (AVE/ OBP/ SLU) of 289/ 341/ 418.

Peña is the only one of the three that had been included in the original list, leaked a few weeks ago and at that time made up of 90 athletes, 26 fewer than those announced now by the JIT digital portal.

By recommendations of the Provincial Baseball Directorate, the outfielders Dailier Peña, a member of the national U-23 preselection, and Osmani Urrutia Jr., with experience in Cuban teams of minor categories, joined the group.

The bad news for Las Tunas baseball is precisely in those numbers. Only Denis Peña is considered a weighty prospect by the country's specialists, while Dailier and Urrutia Jr. are bets of the local coaches.

Provinces such as Sancti Spíritus (12), Artemisa (11) and Camagüey (10) seem to have secured a base to work on their future; while Las Tunas, which has the most stable team in the National Series in the last three years, stands at the bottom of the table. In fact, it is tied with Guantánamo, the territory with most discreet results in recent times.

Even though the Balcony of Eastern Cuba has been hit by the exodus of younger players, this is a pervasive handicap in Cuban baseball. Of the seven talents that, on average, each province should have on that list, Las Tunas currently has less than half, so that the efforts must inevitably be directed towards the development of the minor categories.

The group unveiled last Saturday includes 11 catchers, 23 infielders, 20 outfielders and 62 pitchers, among which should be the replacement of the National Team in the medium and long terms.

Ernesto Reynoso, national baseball director, has clarified on several occasions that the list is open to new proposals and will be reviewed periodically. In addition, the 116 players will undergo evaluation before, during and after the conclusion of the 60 National Series.

FULL LIST OF CUBAN PROSPECTS

PINAR DEL RÍO (7)

Tony Guerra Echazabal (1B), Reynaldo Lazaga Hernández (J), Liván Moinelo Pita (L), Raidel Martínez Pérez (L), Luis A. Silva Silva (L), Leodán Reyes Lugo (L) y Frank A. Álvarez Díaz (L).

ARTEMISA (11)

Andy Cosme Oliva (R), Yansel Reyes Machado (JC), Henry Llorente Rodríguez (J), Carlos A. de la Tejeda Vinent (J), Sean Rodríguez Pérez (L), Andy L. Pérez Ortiz (L), Arián Abreu Álvarez (L), Leodán García Zaballa (L), Issac Alfonzo Rodríguez (L), Laidel Torres González (L) y Yanley Delgado Borrero (L).

ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD (8)

Luis Rojas Aguilar (JC), Eddy Rodríguez Lugo (JC), Jhony Hardy González (J), Jonathan Carbó Campoalegre (L), Franklin Quintana Gamboa (L), Damián Balón Rivero (L), Yeiniel A. Zayas Londres (L) y Kendry Hernández Brown (L).

LA HABANA (5)

Andrés Hernández Díaz (3B), Andy A. Rodríguez Valdés (L), Bryan A. Chi Montoya (L), Pável Hernández Bruces (L) y Yandy Molina Barrios (L).

MAYABEQUE (9)

Javier Carabeo Méndez (R), Juan C. Hernández Ortiz (1B), Rangel Ramos Pozo (SS), Orlando Capote Guerrero (J), Darián Alonso Rodríguez (L), Alyánser Álvarez del Sol (L), Diosvel Nápoles Regifo (L), Marlon Cruz Serrano (L) y Julián Quintana Laguardia (L).

MATANZAS (8)

Ariel Martínez Marrero (R), Andrys Pérez García (R), Armando Dueñas Moré (L), Andy Quesada Coto (L), Reinier Rivero Estrada (L), Jaykel Parra Limonta (L), Ariel Carrillo Suárez (L) y Naykel Y. Cruz Zaldívar (L).

CIENFUEGOS (8)

Daniel Pérez Pérez (1B), César Prieto Echavarría (2b), Luis V. Mateo Terry (SS), Luis E. González Duncan (J), Félix J. Rodríguez García (J), Hermes David González (L), Abel Campos Carrazana (L) y Luis A. Serpa Socarrás (L).

VILLA CLARA (6)

Juan C. López Rojas (2B), Walter Pacheco Hernández (1B), Ottoniel González Veliz (J), Pablo Luis Guillén Díaz (L), Javier Mirabal Espinosa (L) y Eduardo Rodríguez Cabrera (L).

SANCTI SPÍRITUS (12)

Yúnior Ibarra Araque (R), Loidel Rodríguez Peralta (R), Rodolexis Moreno González (3B), Diasmany Palacio Rodríguez (1B), José M. Fonte Frenes (SS), Géiser Cepeda Lima (J), Dismany Ortiz Lugones (J), Yanquiel Maury Gutiérrez (L), Roberto Hernández Navarro (L), Edelso Montesino Magad (L), Luis Daniel Morales Aguilera (L) y Pedro A. Álvarez Jiménez (L).

CIEGO DE ÁVILA (9)

Lázaro Martín Álvarez (R), Johnathan Bridón Sarduy (R), Roberto Castillo Montero (UTI), Leosbanis Pérez Ocampo (UTI), Yuddiel González Torres (J), Fernando Betanzos Marrero (L), Sergio Hernández Santana (L), Ronaldo Lobaina Pino (L) y Arnaldo Rodríguez Romero (L).

CAMAGÜEY (10)

Julio Nogueira Figueredo (R), Yoel Darce Herrera (1B), Yandy Yanes Nembhar (UTI), Luis González Ascuy (J), Denis LuaceS Lemez (J), Loidel Chapellí Zulueta (J), Yariel Rodríguez Yordi (L), Yosimar Cousín la Rosa (L), Juan Contreras Esquivel (L) y Luis Gómez Pérez (L).

LAS TUNAS (3)

Denis Peña Rivero (JC), Osmani A. Urrutia Hernández (J) y Dailer Peña Torres (J).

HOLGUÍN (4)
Dasiel González García (J), Rafael Sánchez Thoppe (L), Michel Cabrera Rodríguez (L) y Enmanuel Chapman Ayón (L).

GRANMA (7)

Ariel Pestano Rosado (R), Iván Prieto González (R), Guillermo García García (1B), Miguel González Fuentes (UTI), Darién Palma Fonseca (J), Francisco Venecia Suárez (J) y Yankiel Sánchez Morales (L).

SANTIAGO DE CUBA (6)

Santiago Torres Brene (JC), Yoelquis Guibert Stevens (J), Ulfrido García Andújar (L), Carlos Font Mustelier (L), Yúnior Tur Pozo (L) y Uber Mejías Fondín (L).

GUANTÁNAMO (3)

Yeudis Reyes Gamboa (L), Dayron Mena Silot (L) y Alexánder Valiente Rodríguez (L).