Cuba reduces pre-selection for U-12 World Cup

Havana, June 30 – The National Baseball Commission announced today the reduction to 20 players in the Cuban pre-selection for the U-12 World Cup scheduled for July 23 to August 3 in Chinese Taipei.

The team, which will consist of 18 players and is under the tutelage of Havana-born coach Raúl Rodríguez, continues its preparations for the event, in which it will participate in Group A, which includes, in addition to the hosts, the teams of Mexico, Australia, Germany and Japan.

The current phase includes three catchers: Marcos Vera McDonald (Havana), Yuceider Torres (Mayabeque), and Ronney Noa (Villa Clara), and five infielders: Yordan Reyes, Denis Zamora, and Diangel Prieto (Villa Clara), Jordan Osegueira, and Yeison Pentón (Havana).

Iván Castillo and Maikol Lluch (Havana), Sean García (Ciego de Ávila), Gabriel Sarria (Cienfuegos), and Yeison Girón (Santiago de Cuba) patrol the outfield, and seven pitchers complete the list.

They are Yan Carlos Ramírez (Matanzas), José Padrón, Yasniel Garay (Havana), Alex Gómez (Sancti Spíritus), Yuniel Zamora, Mauro Álvarez (Granma), and Xavier García (Artemisa).

The children's event brings together 12 nations in two groups; Group B is made up of the Czech Republic, South Korea, Panama, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, and the United States, the most successful team at this level with five titles.

Since the launch of the competition in 2011, Cuba has won a silver medal and a bronze medal, and will seek to return to the podium in this new edition in front of a competition of high technical rigor. (Source: Prensa Latina)