The Willemstad Cannons, champions of Curaçao’s winter league, announced the roster they will send to the Serie de Las Americas, scheduled for Feb. 5–13 in Caracas and La Guaira, Venezuela.
The roster features a pair of former major leaguers in Wladimir Balentien and Andrelton Simmons, along with several former minor leaguers.
One of those is infielder Gedionne Marlin. The former Texas Rangers prospect reached the Dominican Summer League before being released in 2023. Since then, Marlin has emerged as one of the better hitters in Europe and in the Curaçao Professional Baseball League. He went 4-for-10 in three games during the winter league after going 6-for-16 across four games in last year’s competition. He is expected to play a prominent role in the infield for Curaçao in the tournament.
Another former minor leaguer on the roster is catcher Hendrik Clementina. A former prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves organizations, Clementina played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol in 2025 and made a brief appearance in the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. He went 1-for-8 and hit a home run in the league final for the Cannons and is expected to be one of the club’s key power bats in the tournament.
On the mound, Venezuelan right-hander Brayan Pérez is expected to be a key reliever. Pérez threw two scoreless innings for the Cannons after pitching earlier this winter for Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela, where he posted a 2.03 ERA in 13 1/3 innings with 12 strikeouts.
Another top arm on the staff is Venezuelan right-hander Nomar Rojas. He recorded a 2.45 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings for Águilas del Zulia this winter. Rojas also pitched three scoreless innings with three strikeouts for the Curaçao Suns and could see time in the rotation during the tournament.
The Cannons will open the tournament Feb. 5 against Argentina’s Club Daom. They will face Águilas Metropolitanas of Panama on Feb. 6, Colombia’s Caimanes de Barranquilla on Feb. 7, Nicaragua’s champion Leones de León on Feb. 8, Cuba’s national team on Feb. 9 and conclude group play Feb. 11 against Venezuela’s champion Navegantes del Magallanes. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals Feb. 12, with the final scheduled for Feb. 13 in Caracas.
Full roster
Pitchers: Gillian Wernet, Michael Vilchez, Nestor Molina, Adrian Luna, Osmer Morales, Mikell Manzano, Rober Colina, Nomar Rojas, Manuel Cachutt, Alvin Herrera, Brayan Pérez, José Campos, Luis Rijo, Cleivert Pérez, Temesh Lourens
Catchers: Hendrik Clementina, Keinner Piña
Infielders: Andrelton Simmons, Gedionne Marlin, Juremi Profar, Wladimir Balentien, Luis Atiles, Jecksson Flores, Donovan Antonia
Outfielders: Raysheandall Michel, Ericson Leonora, Anthony Jiménez
Photo: Wladimir Balentien batting. Courtesy of Curaçao Professional Baseball League
