The internationals from Las Tunas Yosvani Alarcón, Carlos Juan Viera, and Yudiel Rodríguez, all members of the last National Team, accompany the catcher and first baseman Rafael Viñales in the pre-selection of 38 players towards the Olympic Qualifier Tournament of the Americas, scheduled between May 31 and June 5th in Florida, United States.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- At a press conference held in Havana, the top leadership of the Baseball National Commission announced the list of players for the most important commitment in recent years, the penultimate opportunity to reach one of two available tickets to the baseball tournament of the summer games.
Apart from the awaited announcement, expectations regarding the possible inclusion of players who play in different leagues without the auspices of the Cuban Federation were once again postponed. In this regard, the national commissioner Ernesto Reinoso declared that talks with some of them continue, in what appears to be still a complicated process, information on which progress will be provided later.
For the moment, it will be necessary to assume that the 38 names announced today constitute potential Cuba has to attend its sixth consecutive Olympic Games, after three titles (Barcelona '92, Atlanta '96, Athens '04) and a couple of second places (Sydney '00, Beijing '08). And for now, we will also have to wait to know the name of the team director, who will be chosen a posteriori between the two finalists of the 60 National Baseball Series: Armando Ferrer, from Matanzas, and Carlos Martí, from Granma, recent monarch of the local championship.
The Lumberjacks of Las Tunas, third in the just concluded season, will have among the aspiring catchers Yosvani Alarcón and Rafael Viñales, who will be accompanied by Ariel Martínez from Matanzas and Luis Gómez from Camaguey.
Among pitchers, right-hander Carlos Juan Viera has great chances of earning a spot in the starting rotation, while left-hander Yudiel Rodríguez will try to be included in the reliever group, as he did in the 2019 Premier 12, the last international experience of a Cuban team.
The list includes Cuban players currently playing in Japan baseball, led by outfielder Alfredo Despaigne, presumably the fourth batter in the Antillean squad. Ariel Martínez and Yurisbel Gracial, from Matanzas; Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez, from Pinar del Río; as well as Yariel Rodríguez, from Camaguey, complete the group of players with current contracts in Japan.
Pre-selection for the Olympic Qualifier Tournament of the Americas
Catchers: Yosvani Alarcón (LTU), Rafael Viñales (LTU), Ariel Martínez (MTZ), Luis Gómez (CMG).
Infield Players: Yordanis Samón (CMG), Lisbán Correa (IND), Guillermo Avilés (GRA), César Prieto (CFG), Yordan Manduley (HOL), Erisbel Arruebarruena (MTZ), Alexánder Ayala (CMG), Yurisbel Gracial (MTZ ), Dayán García (ART), Raúl González (CAV), Jéfferson Delgado (MTZ), Yadir Mujica (MTZ), Humberto Bravo (CMG).
Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne (GRA), Fréderich Cepeda (SSP), Roel Santos (GRA), Raico Santos (GRA), Yadir Drake (MTZ), Yosvani Peñalver (IND), Loidel Chapellí (CMG).
Pitchers: Carlos Juan Viera (LTU), Yudiel Rodríguez (LTU), Lázaro Blanco (GRA), Yariel Rodríguez (CMG), Raidel Martínez (PRI), Liván Moinelo (PRI), Yoenni Yera (MTZ), Yuen Socarrás (SSP) , Brian Chi (IND), Frank Madan (CMG), Carlos Font (SCU), Yúnior Tur (SCU), Andy Rodríguez (IND), Pavel Hernández (IND).
Management staff: Carlos Martí (GRA), Armando Ferrer (MTZ), Ricardo Eizmendi (CNB), José Hernández (CAV), Alexánder Ramos (IJV), Raciel Sánchez (PRI), Jesús Salgado (MTZ).
