According to Cuban journalist Yusseff Díaz, Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Víctor Labrada and Arizona Diamondbacks pitching prospect Denny Larrondo have made themselves available to represent Cuba at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Labrada, a 25-year-old outfielder from Havana, Cuba, has been one of the breakout performers in Seattle’s organization this season. He was promoted to Triple-A on Sunday after an impressive stint with Double-A Arkansas. In 2025, Labrada hit .295/.407/.427 with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases—just one behind the league lead in all of Double-A.
The dynamic outfielder has shown significant growth in his plate discipline and overall hitting profile. His 14.2% walk rate is a career high and ranked 10th in the Texas League, while his strikeout rate dropped to a personal-low of 16.3%. Labrada also posted a 23.6% line drive rate and a 56.1% pull rate—both career highs—contributing to a 152 wRC+, the highest in the entire Texas League. Considering that the Texas League is regarded as the toughest of the three Double-A leagues and that Arkansas plays in one of the league’s most pitcher-friendly parks, Labrada’s performance stands out even more.
Now heading to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Labrada has a strong opportunity to continue producing at a high level and could position himself for a major league call-up later this year. He is expected to compete for a starting outfield spot for Cuba at the WBC, likely playing a corner spot next to probable centerfield starter, Andy Pages.
On the pitching side, Denny Larrondo has also confirmed his availability for Team Cuba. The 23-year-old right-hander has faced a long road, missing the entire 2020 season due to the pandemic and the 2022 season with injuries. Despite the setbacks, Larrondo is putting together the best season of his career in Single-A.
Through 51 innings, Larrondo has posted a 4.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts and a career-best 10% walk rate. His 27% strikeout rate is also a personal high. He’s been especially sharp in June, recording a 3.60 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 20 innings. His 11.3 K/9 rate this month marks the first time at the Single-A level that he’s pitched at least 10 innings in a month with both a sub-3.60 ERA, and a strikeout rate above 11.3 per nine.
Larrondo is now positioning himself for a promotion and will likely be in contention for a rotation spot on what’s shaping up to be a historic Cuban WBC roster. He’s expected to join a deep staff that includes Rafael García, Daysbel Hernández, Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez, Dario Sarduy, and Cuban-American left-hander Andrew Pérez.
WBN WBC: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
