HAVANA (AP) — Cubans signed with Major League Baseball organizations and other foreign clubs will for the first time join national stars on the national team that will play in the World Baseball Classic, officials announced Wednesday night.
The Cuban Baseball Federation has long defended the idea of amateurism and punished those who left the island to seek their fortune in professional baseball.
But that changed when a state television program announced the list of 30 Cuban national team players who will play in the international tournament that begins March 8 in Taiwan.
The team will include third baseman Yoán Moncada and center fielder Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox, as well as three players from Triple-A rosters: infielder Andy Ibáñez of the Toldeo Mud Hens of the Detroit Tigers, right-hander Miguel Romero of the Oakland Vegas Aviators and right-hander Ronald Bolaños of the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Kansas City Royals.
Also on the team will be former New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes, a 37-year-old two-time All-Star who last played in the majors in 2018.
Two Cubans who play in Japan were chosen, outfielder Yurisbel Gracial of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Pacific League and catcher Ariel Martínez of the Chunichi Dragons of the Central League.
To organize the participation of MLB players, Cuba had to obtain special permission from the United States because Washington maintains sanctions against Cuba. Under the agreement, those players are prohibited from coming to Cuba to work with the team.
Baseball is Cuba’s national sport but economic difficulties, the philosophy of restricting athlete movement and the temptations of professional contracts abroad have decimated the game on the island.
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