Photo: ACN
Havana, Sep 11 (ACN) The pre-selection of the 60 players who will seek a place in the Cuban team that will participate in the third edition of the Premier 12 tournament was announced today at a press conference in the Adolfo Luque hall of the Latin American Stadium.
The baseball event, which will be held from November 9 to 24, will be divided into two groups of the world's top-ranked teams according to the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) list.
Cuba was placed in the B bracket based in China Taipei, where, in addition to the local teams, there will be the Dominican Republic, Australia, South Korea and Japan, the latter two champions of the two previous versions.
Mexico will be the host in the B tournament, to be held in the cities of Guadalajara and Tepic, in a section where the teams from the United States, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico will also compete.
Armando Jhonson, who also took the reins in the last World Classic, will lead the team, the bench coach will be Germán Mesa, the assistant coaches will be Rafael Muñoz and Armando Ferrer and the pitching coaches will be Pedro Luis Lazo and José Elosegui.
The team that will represent the Greater Antilles will be officially formed on October 10 and a few days later will leave for South Korea to play several friendly matches, including two with the national team.
Here is the list:
CATCHERS
Andrys Perez (MTZ)
Andy Cosme (ART)
Yosvani Alarcón (LTU)
Rafael Viñales (LTU)
Ariel Martínez (MTZ)
Jorge Y. Rojas (PRI)
INFIELDERS
Yoan Moncada (MLB)
Erisbel Aruebarrena (MTZ)
Luis V. Mateo (CFG)
Guillermo Aviles (GRA)
Dayan García (ART)
Christian Rodriguez (VCL)
Roberto S. Baldoquín (LTU)
Yadil Mujica (MTZ)
Yuliesky Remón (GRA)
Alexei Ramirez (PRI)
William Saavedra (PRI)
Tailon Sánchez (PRI)
Osvaldo Abreu (GRA)
Jean Walter Valdés (LE)
Ernesto Martínez (LE)
OUTFIELDERS
Raico Santos (GRA)
Yoelquis Guibert (SCU)
Lázaro Armenteros (FREE AGENT)
Roel Santos (GRA)
Denis Peña (LTU)
Yadir Dreke (MEXICAN LEAGUE)
José A. Noroña (MTZ)
Alfredo Despaigne (GRA)
Over L. Cremet (GTM)
Francisco Martínez (SCU)
Yasser J. González (PRI)
Eduardo Blanco (MTZ)
Ariel Hechavarría (IND)
Carlos de la Tejera (ART)
PITCHERS
Yoan López (LE)
Yoenni Yera (MTZ)
Liván Moinelo (PRI)
Geonel Gutiérrez (ART)
Raidel Martínez (PRI)
Yankiel Mauri (SSP)
Frank A. Álvarez (PRI)
Raymond Figueredo (IND)
Yosiel Serrano (SCU)
Osdany Rodriguez (VCL)
Enyer Fernandez (GTM)
Andy Vargas (IND)
Danny Betancourt (SCU)
Frank L. Medina (PRI)
Dario Sarduy (VCL)
Ronald Bolaños (LE)
Roilan Portuondo (GTM)
Randy Cueto (VCL)
Frank Herrera (IND)
Branlis Rodriguez (PRI)
Leodan Reyes (PRI)
Maykel Taylor (IND)
Randy Martínez (PRI)
Pavel Hernández (IND)
Erlys Casanova (PRI)