Cuba released their WBSC Premier 12 roster yesterday, Sep. 11. The roster consists of 60 Cuban players, with the headliner being third baseman Yoan Moncada of the Chicago White Sox. The Premier 12 tournament is scheduled to take place from Nov. 10 to Nov. 24, 2024.
Along with Moncada, there were several known names that made the roster. Some of those names are infielder Yadir Drake from the 2022 World Baseball Classic team, Brewers’ first base prospect Ernesto Martinez, relief pitcher Raidel Martinez of the Chunichi Dragons in the NPB, and former Major League All-Star shortstop Alexei Ramirez.
The Cuban roster consists of six catchers, 15 infielders, 14 outfielders, and 25 pitchers. The roster selection was muddied when three Cuban players withdrew from the team, and another three were barred from leaving the country.
This is the Premier 12 tournament’s third iteration after its debut in November 2015. The tournament consists of the top 12 national baseball teams globally, according to the WBSC. The tournament’s first winner was South Korea in 2015, with Japan being the defending champions from the second edition in 2019. This year, the Premier 12 will be hosted in Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan over two weeks.
The Cuban group will be difficult, as the other teams in Group B are former champions Japan and South Korea, as well as the Dominican Republic, Chinese Taipei, and Australia. Cuba will have to rely on its MLB talent in the lineup and organize its pitching staff in hopes of advancing into the Super Round come November.
Photo Credit: Members of Cuba’s team celebrate their 4-3 victory in the World Baseball Classic. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)
