Dayán García

Havana, Sept 18 (RHC) - Outstanding infielder Dayán García declined to be included in the Cuban baseball pre-selection that is preparing for the Premier 12, next November.

37 years old and one of Cuba's outstanding figures in the 2023 World Classic, Garcia conditioned his self-exclusion to personal reasons, Cubalite portal reported Wednesday, citing a source close to the player, a native of San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa.

"In that decision weighed heavily that he has a contract in Nicaragua for the next season, 2024-2025. In October he must travel to that country, where he played last year. There are also rumors that he will not be in the final team that will participate in the Premier 12. But that, as I told you, is a rumor; the first thing is certain. Dayán is an excellent person, noble, disciplined and very familiar. His decision not to be in the pre-selection was very well thought out, I guarantee it," the source explained.

Cuba announced a few days ago a pre-selection of 60 players, from which will come the team that will represent Cuba in the upcoming Premier 12, in November.

After a time in the Dominican Republic, where he fought for a professional contract, and several campaigns in the National Series performing above average, García had his first opportunity in the baseball league with the Tigres de Chinandega, of the main Nicaraguan circuit, at the end of 2023, Cubalite recalled.

With the Tigres he averaged 315, with 25 runs scored, 52 hits, five runs, six home runs and 29 runs batted in, and defensively he performed as an outfielder with only two errors committed and 983 average, according to Cubalite.

Dayán García was one of the members of Team Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.