Cuba arrives at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 with a defined roster and a goal that leaves no room for ambiguity: to reclaim the gold in baseball after two consecutive silvers that have extended a title drought that now spans 12 years.
The manager Germán Mesa, who took the technical direction in June 2025 with a contract until 2028, selected 24 players after a process that included the National Series, the Elite League, and monitoring players with experience in foreign leagues. The philosophy of the former star shortstop is clear: “pitch well, defend better, and take advantage of every offensive opportunity granted by the opponent.”
The pitching staff is the team's main calling card. Andy Vargas, Frank Herrera, José Ignacio Bermúdez, and Raymond Figueredo lead a group of 11 pitchers that the coaching staff believes can make a difference in a short tournament, where each start can sway a series.
The offense, on the other hand, raises more questions. Batters like Yoelquis Guibert, Yoel Yanqui, and Yulieski Remón bring quality, but the team does not seem to have the power of other regional selections. Timely production, base running, and tactical execution will be decisive if Cuba wants to go far.
The baseball tournament kicks off on July 31 and runs until August 8. Cuba has been placed in Group A along with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Curacao, while Mexico, Panama, Colombia, and Nicaragua make up Group B.
The host, the Dominican Republic, is the team to beat: its advantage of playing at home and the talent it usually gathers make it the favorite of the tournament. Puerto Rico also poses a significant challenge in the group stage.
The history supports Cuban aspirations. Cuba is the most successful country in the history of Central American baseball, with 15 golds, three silvers, and one bronze across 24 editions. However, the last title was won in Veracruz 2014. Since then, there have been two silvers: Barranquilla 2018 and San Salvador 2023, where the final against Mexico was not played due to rain, and the gold was awarded to the Mexican team for having a better record in the preliminary round.
The recent cycle has been turbulent. Cuba was eliminated from the 2026 World Baseball Classic against Canada in March, and was excluded from the 2026 Caribbean Series when the tournament was moved from Caracas to Guadalajara. The Santo Domingo Games now represent the first major opportunity for Mesa to return the national team to the top podium of regional baseball.
There is an additional incentive that raises the stakes: the tournament champion takes home the only slot available for the Pan American Games in Lima 2027, turning each match into a double final.
Cuba may not be the clear favorite, but it is certainly one of the real contenders for the podium. If the pitching performs well and the offense delivers in critical moments, the Caribbean team has the means to break the streak and return to the top of Central American baseball.
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