BA Newsletter: Get Analysis, Rankings Delivered To Your Inbox!

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 LeyvaHermosillo (Mexican League)
Roenis EliasChicago Cubs
Onelki GarcíaMexicali (Mexican League)
Ronald BolañosKansas City Royals
Luis M. RomeroOakland Athletics
Liván MoineloFukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB)
Raidel MartinezChunichi Dragons (NPB)
Yariel RodríguezChunichi Dragons (NPB)
Frank Abel ÁlvarezChunichi Dragons (NPB)
Yoennis YeraJalisco (Mexican League)
José Ramón RodríguezCamaguey
Naykel Y. CruzMatanzas
Carlos J. VieraMonterrey (Mexican League)
Yeudis ReyesGuantanamo
CATCHERS (2)
Andrys PérezMatanzas
Lorenzo QuintanaN/A
INFIELDERS (8)
Ariel MartinezNippon Ham Fighters (NPB)
Yadir DrakeObregon (Mexican League)
Yoán MoncadaChicago White Sox
Andy IbáñezDetroit Tigers
Yadil MujicaMatanzas
Erisbel ArruebarrenaN/A
Dayán GarcíaArtemisa
Luis V. MateoCienfuegos
OUTFIELDERS (6)
Yurisbel GracialFukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB)
Yoenis CéspedesN/A
Alfredo DespaigneFukuoka Softbank Hawks (NPB)
Luis RobertChicago White Sox
Roel SantosHermosillo (Mexican League)
Yoelkis GuibertSantiago de Cuba
Josh Palacios

Netherlands Defeats Cuba To Kick Off World Baseball Classic

Josh Palacios drove in the tie-breaking run and the Netherlands held Cuba to three hits to pick up a 4-2 win in the World Baseball Classic opener.

Are you a member?

In order to access this exclusive content you must have a Baseball America Account. 

Login or sign up  


Additionally, you can subscribe to Baseball America's newsletter and receive all of our rankings, analysis, prospect insight & more delivered to your inbox every day. Click here to get started. 

of Free Stories Remaining