More Major Leaguers confirmed in Cuba's pre-selection to the V World Classic
Havana, November 19 (RHC) -- Cuba confirmed on Saturday three more active baseball players or former major leaguers for its team for the V World Baseball Classic, bringing the number of internationals to six, seeking to form a competitive team for the strong race.
"In the last few hours director Armando Johnson has received positive responses from Yoan Moncada (Chicago White Sox), Yoenis Cespedes (Aguilas Cibaeñas) and Onelkis Garcia (Aguilas Cibaeñas) with a view to Cuba's pre-selection to the V World Classic," the island's Baseball Federation (FCB) reported on its Twitter account.
Moncada is the only active player, "La Potencia" Céspedes shined for several seasons and was the first Cuban-born player to win the MLB Home Run Derby and García played two seasons in the Big League.
Last Monday the federation had announced the call-up of Andy Ibanez (Detroit Tigers), Yoan Lopez (New York Mets) and Elian Leyva (Naranjeros de Hermosillo), for the pre-selection of 50 players for the Classic, scheduled for March 8-23, 2023.
The FCB is looking to put together a team that will fight in the tournament and for the first time has called up players active in the MLB, who will join figures from its Elite League, others who play in professional circuits, as well as its stars from Japan.
Moncada (27 years old) has 82 home runs and 299 towers in seven MLB seasons, Céspedes (37) hit 165 home runs in 8 MLB seasons, besides being the first Cuban-born player to win the Home Run Derby (2013, a feat he repeated in 2014. He also played with Cuba in the II Classic (2009).
Onelki, 33, played only two seasons in the MLB, but has had a successful career in the leagues of Japan and several countries in the Americas.
The new management of the FCB takes place in a context of harassment, threats and pressure for players of interest to renounce the invitation. This unfortunate stance is led by the delegitimized Cuban Professional Ballplayers Association, based in Florida, United States, denounced the FCB.
Last April, the president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), Juan Reynaldo Pérez Pardo, also expressed his willingness to resume an agreement with the MLB signed in December 2018, and stopped months later by the government of former President Donald Trump.
Cuba will debut in the V Classic on March 8 against the Netherlands. It will then face Italy (9), Panama (10) and the host of that A key, Taiwan (12). The Taichung Stadium, in the city of Taipei, will be the venue for these actions.
