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The Cuban right-handed pitcher Rafael Sánchez will not be part of the Cuba team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as reported by journalist Francys Romero on his social media.
Sánchez, 26 years old and belonging to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, comes from an injury sustained in 2025, which is why the club advised him to prioritize a thorough preparation during Spring Training for the upcoming season, the mentioned insider stated.
The pitcher himself communicated his decision to the authorities of Cuban baseball. According to the information, Sánchez is set to start the 2026 season in Triple-A with Buffalo, while he completes his recovery and conditioning process.
In this way, their name is excluded from the list of 35 players published by various specialized outlets, featuring the following players:
Receivers
Andrys Pérez
Omar Hernández
Ariel Martínez
Infield players
Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena
Alexei Ramírez
Ernesto Martínez Jr.
Andy Ibáñez
Yoan Moncada
Yiddi Cappe
Alexander Vargas
Gardeners
Andy Pagés
Yoelkis Guibert
Víctor Labrada
Roel Santos
Alfredo Despaigne
Yoel Yanqui
Launchers
Liván Moínelo
Raidel Martínez
Randy Martínez
Julio Robaina
Yoan López
Darien Núñez
Pedro Santos
Francis Texido
Emmanuel Chapman
Yariel Rodríguez
Daysbel Hernández
Daviel Hurtado
Lázaro Estrada
Denny Larrondo
Silvano Hechevarría
Jorge Marcheco
Jousimar Cousin
Osiel Rodríguez
The final list representing Cuba in the World Baseball Classic will be finalized later, once training concludes, player availability is clarified, and pending medical and contractual issues are resolved.
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