Cuba 2023 World Baseball Classic Roster

Image credit: Yoan Moncada (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Cuba announced its 30-man roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic on Thursday. For the first time, major and minor leaguers who defected from Cuba are being allowed to play for the team in international competition.

White Sox teammates Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada lead the roster along with former all-star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Cubs lefthander Roenis Elias, Athletics righthander Luis Romero, Royals righthander Ronald Bolaños, Tigers third baseman Andy Ibañez and former Marlins minor league catcher Lorenzo Quintana are the other expatriates on the roster. (Former Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena re-patriated and has represented Cuba in international competition for years).

The Cuban team also features three highly-regarded pitchers currently playing in Japan in Livan Moinelo, Raidel Martinez and Yariel Rodriguez.

The team’s manager will be Armando Johnson, who manages Isla de la Juventud in Serie Nacional.

PITCHERS (14)
Elián Leyva	Hermosillo (Mexican League)
Chicago Cubs
Onelki García	Mexicali (Mexican League)
Ronald Bolaños	Kansas City Royals
Luis M. Romero	Oakland Athletics
Liván Moinelo	Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB)
Chunichi Dragons (NPB)
Yariel Rodríguez	Chunichi Dragons (NPB)
Frank Abel Álvarez	Chunichi Dragons (NPB)
Yoennis Yera	Jalisco (Mexican League)
José Ramón Rodríguez	Camaguey
Naykel Y. Cruz	Matanzas
Carlos J. Viera	Monterrey (Mexican League)
Yeudis Reyes	Guantanamo
CATCHERS (2)
Andrys Pérez	Matanzas
N/A
INFIELDERS (8)
Ariel Martinez	Nippon Ham Fighters (NPB)
Obregon (Mexican League)
Yoán Moncada	Chicago White Sox
Andy Ibáñez	Detroit Tigers
Matanzas
N/A
Dayán García	Artemisa
Luis V. Mateo	Cienfuegos
OUTFIELDERS (6)
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB)
Yoenis Céspedes	N/A
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB)
Chicago White Sox
Hermosillo (Mexican League)
Santiago de Cuba