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The six teams qualified for the IV Elite League of Cuban Baseball defined their reinforcements this Tuesday via videoconference from the Miramar Business Center in Havana, with the tournament scheduled to kick off on May 2 amidst the worst economic crisis the island has faced in decades.
The process was led by Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the Cuban Baseball Federation and national commissioner, and it was structured in seven selection rounds: the first four from a pool created by the National Commission, and the last three with greater freedom, allowing for the inclusion of players from the National Series, players not included in the pool, and even Cubans residing abroad authorized by the authorities, as explained by the Prensa Latina Agency.
Each team starts with a core of 20 players and adds seven reinforcements to complete a roster of 27.
Among the most notable movements is the addition of veterans Frederich Cepeda and Yordanis Samón to the Huracanes de Mayabeque, as well as the return of Alexei Ramírez, a 44-year-old former Major League player, who reinforces the Cazadores de Artemisa after achieving a batting average of .375, three home runs, and 11 RBIs in 40 games during the 64th National Series.
Industriales de La Habana, for its part, sought competitive balance by incorporating players from various provinces, while Las Tunas, Holguín, and Matanzas also completed their rosters with names from different regions of the country.
The qualifying phase includes 40 games per team in subseries of four challenges, from May 2 to June 19. The semifinals will be held from June 21 to 30 and the finals from July 2 to 10, both in a best-of-seven format. Only four teams will advance to the postseason, where, according to Prensa Latina, "the margin for error will be just a breath."
The authorities described the organization of the tournament as "a colossal effort," although the context in which it takes place cannot be overlooked: the Cuban economy is in freefall, which directly impacts the conditions of sports on the island, marked by the loss of many talents and the deterioration of sports facilities. In fact, at least 103 athletes have left the island in recent years, a trend that baseball has experienced with particular intensity.
Selected reinforcements
Matanzas Crocodiles: Yulieski Remón (GRA), Sammy Benítez (GRA), Yanielquis Duardo (SSP), Rafael Álvarez (CMG), Jenier Álvarez (PRI), José Carlos Quesada (VCL), and Naykel Cruz (MTZ).
Timbermen of Las Tunas: Yankiel Mauri (SSP), Islay Sotolongo (CFG), Fernando de la Paz (CVA), Mailon Tomás Alonso (VCL), Enyer Fernández (GTM), Osmán Caruncho (VCL), and Rodolfo Soris (CMG).
Holguín Puppies: Leonel Moas Jr. (CMG), Luis Vicente Mateo (CFG), Richel López (CFG), Juan Danilo Pérez (GRA), Rubén Rodríguez (LTU), Leonardo Alarcón (GRA), and José Luis Braña (SSP).
Industriales: Yunier Batista (CVA), Fernando Betanzo (SSP), Taylon Sánchez (PRI), Alberto Emiliano Hechavarría (IJV), Félix Rodríguez (CFG), Jonathan Bridón (CVA) and Alexei Ricardo (GRA).
Mayabeque Hurricanes: Frederich Cepeda (SSP), Yordanis Samón (CMG), Yeison Martínez (SCU), Leodan Reyes (PRI), Frank Denis Blanco (PRI), Yohannis Hernández (SSP), and Yansiel Ajete (PRI).
Cazadores de Artemisa: Harold Vázquez (SCU), Raidel Sánchez (SCU), Juan Manuel Pérez (PRI), Alexei Ramírez (PRI), Erlis Casanova (PRI), Yordanis García (IJV) and Dairon Casanova (VCL).
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