Cuba 2023 World Baseball Classic Roster
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) |
| Roenis Elias | Chicago Cubs |
| Onelki García | Mexicali (Mexican League) |
| Ronald Bolaños | Kansas City Royals |
| Luis M. Romero | Oakland Athletics |
| Liván Moinelo | Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB) |
| Raidel Martinez | 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 |
| Lorenzo Quintana | N/A |
| INFIELDERS (8) | |
| Ariel Martinez | Nippon Ham Fighters (NPB) |
| Yadir Drake | Obregon (Mexican League) |
| Yoán Moncada | Chicago White Sox |
| Andy Ibáñez | Detroit Tigers |
| Yadil Mujica | Matanzas |
| Erisbel Arruebarrena | N/A |
| Dayán García | Artemisa |
| Luis V. Mateo | Cienfuegos |
| OUTFIELDERS (6) | |
| Yurisbel Gracial | Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB) |
| Yoenis Céspedes | N/A |
| Alfredo Despaigne | Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB) |
| Luis Robert | Chicago White Sox |
| Roel Santos | Hermosillo (Mexican League) |
| Yoelkis Guibert | Santiago de Cuba |
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