The list of 28 players who will represent Cuba in the third edition of the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/what-is-the-policy-of-the-powerful-musashifuchu-senior-who-does-not-teach-too-much-to-play-an-active-part-in-high-school-baseball-full-count/” title=”What is the policy of the powerful Musashifuchu senior who "does not teach too much" to play an active part in high school baseball? | Full-Count”>Premier 12 baseball tournament was defined this Saturday, shortly after the team suffered its second defeat in the preparation period against the South Korean team in a duel held at the Sky Dome in Seoul.
With that result he closed the stay in the South Korean capital, where manager Armando Johnson announced the list made up of three catchers, seven infielders, five outfielders and 13 pitchers, according to report published on the sports portal Jit.
#Cuba defines equipment for #Premier12 of #baseball
It is made up of three catchers, seven infielders, five outfielders and 13 pitchers. #CubanBaseball pic.twitter.com/GazIQ3CLx5— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) November 2, 2024
The helmsman who led Cuba to fourth place in the last World Classic (WBC) explained that for the final selection the performance of the 36 eligible players during their stay in the Asian nation was taken into account, which included four games in the Cuban League. Ulsan-KBO autumn, ended with three wins and one loss.
The big news was the inclusion of Rafael Viñales from Las Tunas, initially placed on the reserve list. The decision, the note adds, “was based on the offensive form shown by him, and his ability to perform in various positions.”
Regarding the exclusion of first baseman Guillermo Avilés, Johnson explained that the possibility of having Ariel Martínez and Yadir Drake, an outfielder capable of covering that position, was decisive.
Director Armando Johnson commented on the definitive integration of the team that will represent #Cuba in it #Premier12 of #Baseball. pic.twitter.com/6h3o1GSwx4
— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) November 2, 2024
At first the pitching staff was made up of 14 players, but it was reduced to 13 after the decision to add Viñales and Pavel Hernández, to fill the vacancies left by Ronald Bolaños and Yoan López, two pitchers with experience in the Major League Baseball (MLB) who decided not to participate in the tournament.
Farewell beating
A fateful eighth episode, in which the locals stepped on the rubber eight times, marked the most recent defeat of the Cuban team heading to the Premier 12.
The host artillery hit eight extra-base hits – home runs, triples and six doubles – among the 14 hits against the island’s pitchers, which minimized an offensive improvement in the Cuban ranks, which had ten hits, including Yoelkis Guibert’s home run.
Party #Cuba-South Korea
Preparation for the Tournament #Premier12 of #Baseball
Seoul Sky Dome
Final:
KOR: 13 14 0
CUB: 3 10 1#CubanBaseball @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/7L4oqmE3pZ— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) November 2, 2024
The outfielder from Santiago was 3 for 5 and Viñales was 2 for 4 to lead that section, while Yoan Moncada, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Roberto Baldoquín and Yadil Mujica contributed one hit each.
The Cuban team will travel to Taiwan, home of group B of the Premier 12, in which in addition to the hosts, the teams from the Dominican Republic, Australia, South Korea and the current champion Japan will participate.
It is expected that several preparation sessions will be held there before November 13, the date on which the fight for the two available tickets to advance to the Super Round will begin.
Cuba has participated in the two previous editions and displays the sixth place achieved in the initial version as its most outstanding result. In the previous tournament the team did not make it past the group stage.
The team
Receivers (3): Andrys Pérez, Andy Cosme and Rafael Viñales
Infielders (7): Ariel Martínez, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Christian Rodríguez, Yoan Moncada, Roberto Baldoquín, Yadil Mujica and Jean Walters.
Gardeners (5): Yoelkis Guibert, Lázaro Armenteros, Alfredo Despaigne, Roel Santos and Yadir Drake.
Launchers (13): Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez, Leodán Reyes, Yoennis Yera, Geonel Gutiérrez, Yankiel Mauris, Frank Abel Álvarez, Raymond Figueredo, Andy Vargas, Frank Luis Medina, Darío Sarduy, Yusniel Padrón y Pavel Hernández.
