Cuba’s national team has announced its roster for the Serie de las Américas, scheduled for Feb. 5–13 in Venezuela.
The tournament will serve as preparation for the World Baseball Classic in March. Cuba will lean on a young pitching staff and a lineup featuring several prospects aiming to earn spots for the World Baseball Classic.
Infielder Yoel Yanqui is expected to be one of the offensive leaders. He led the Cuban National Series with a 1.576 OPS and hit 14 home runs in just 88 at-bats for Santiago de Cuba.
Outfielder Yoelkis Guibert is another key bat. He posted a 1.317 OPS with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 107 at-bats for Santiago de Cuba and is expected to form a potent one-two punch with Yanqui.
On the mound, right-hander Randy Cueto stands out. The 25-year-old pitched in the Italian Baseball League during the summer of 2025, posting a 2.54 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 106 1/3 innings. He carried that success into the winter season with Villa Clara in the Serie Nacional, where he owns a league-high-tying 1.85 ERA and is tied for third in strikeouts with 70.
Left-hander Randy Martínez is another arm to watch. The 22-year-old, who pitches in the Chunichi organization in Nippon Professional Baseball, has enjoyed a breakout winter with Pinar del Río. He has a 1.83 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings and is expected to factor into Cuba’s rotation at the World Baseball Classic.
Cuba opens play Feb. 6 against Leones de León, the champions of Nicaragua. Cuba will then face Argentina’s Club Daom on Feb. 7, Venezuela’s Navegantes del Magallanes on Feb. 8, the Willemstad Cannons of Curaçao on Feb. 9, 2024-25 Probeis champions Águilas Metropolitanas on Feb. 10 and Colombian champion Caimanes de Barranquilla on Feb. 11.
The top four teams advance to the semifinals Feb. 12, with the championship game scheduled for Feb. 13 in Caracas.
Roster
Pitchers: Randy Martínez, Frank Álvarez, José Rodríguez, Darío Sarduy, Luis Vázquez, Yunier Batista, Yankiel Mauris, Randy Cueto, Yadián Martínez, Yusniel Padrón, Osdani Rodríguez, Michel Cabrera
Catchers: Harold Vázquez, Nelson Batista
Infielders: Yoel Yanqui, Yulieski Remón, Bárbaro Arruebarrena, Cristian Rodríguez, Luis Mateo, Tailon Sánchez, Raidel Sánchez
Outfielders: Roel Santos, Yoelkis Guibert, Alfredo Despaigne, Leonel Moas, Yasiel González, Francisco Martínez
Photo: Cuba’s Roel Santos (1) is congratulated by his teammates after he scored in the first inning at a World Baseball Classic game against the U.S., Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
