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The Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) announced that Cuban players residing abroad will be able to participate in the third edition of the Cuban Baseball Elite League, a tournament that brings together the six teams that achieved the best results in the most recent edition of the National Baseball Series (SNB).
The competition will begin on March 15, and those interested must submit their application in the province where they wish to play, provided they meet the requirements set by the National Baseball Commission.
This announcement represents a significant shift in Cuban sports policy, as historically, access to official competitions within the island had been restricted for players who chose to settle abroad.
The measure aims to raise the level of the Liga Élite, a competition that, despite its name, has faced criticism for the low quality of the spectacle in its previous editions.
Qualified teams and tournament format
The championship will kick off at the Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, home of the Leñadores de Las Tunas, the current champions of the SNB.
The six teams qualified for the 2024 season are: Leñadores de Las Tunas (defending champions); Vegueros de Pinar del Río; Industriales de La Habana; Tigres de Ciego de Ávila; Alazanes de Granma, and Avispas de Santiago de Cuba.
The regular phase of the tournament will take place between March and April, with each team vying for a spot in the postseason, which will be held in May.
Each team must form a base roster of 22 players, and the selection must be completed by February 3rd.
These players must have participated in the 63rd National Baseball Series, thus ensuring that the foundation of the tournament comes from the national circuit.
Additionally, the incorporation of 10 reinforcements per team will be allowed, distributed as follows: Six will be assigned by the National Baseball Commission, and four can be freely chosen by the coaches.
Among these reinforcements, the strategists will have the option to select Cuban players residing abroad, with the sole condition that they have not played for another team in the National Series.
Window of changes and replacements
The tournament also introduces a "transfer window" before the 40th game, during which teams can add up to three new players from the National Series or other leagues.
The rules for substituting players during the competition state that: A reinforcement can only be replaced by another reinforcement, and a provincial player must be substituted by another player of the same category.
Each team will have a total of 32 players, although only 27 can be selected for each match. These will be the players who make up the active roster and travel when the team plays away from its home stadium.
Conditions for players contracted abroad
Players contracted in foreign leagues through the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) will be able to join or leave the Elite League at any time, depending on the terms of their contract.
This flexibility will allow them to balance their commitments abroad with their participation in the Cuban tournament, an option that could be appealing to some athletes.
Elimination of the repatriation requirement and its impact
One of the key factors enabling the inclusion of players from abroad was the decision by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER) to eliminate, in July 2023, the repatriation requirement for emigrated athletes who wished to compete in national tournaments.
With this flexibilization, the authorities aim to repatriate sports talent, even if symbolically, and attract players who are performing in foreign leagues.
This modification responds to an urgent need: the crisis facing Cuban baseball, characterized by the constant emigration of talent, the lack of incentives for players, and the declining level of its national competitions.
Until recently, athletes who left the country independently were banned from the Cuban competitive structure, significantly undermining the quality of internal tournaments.
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