Victor Mesa to Manage Team Cuba vs USA

Victor Mesa in his Matanzas uniform.

HAVANA TIMES — Victor Mesa will lead Cuba’s national baseball team when they bump up against the US university squad here in the capital from July 5 to 9, said Higinio Velez, the president of the National Baseball Federation on Monday.

The clash will mark the resumption of these traditional games that started in the mid-1980’s but were subsequently suspended in 1996 due to a decision of the USA Baseball organization, reports the Prensa Latina news agency.

Mesa will select 24 players from a shortlist of 36 to structure the team that will take on the US squad in a five game series to be played in the Latin American Stadium in Havana.

Cuba’s shortlist:

–Catchers: Yenier Bello, Frank Camilo Morejon, Yulexis La Rosa and Ariel Pestano.

–Infielders: Jose Dariel Abreu, Joan Carlos Pedroso, Juan Carlos Torriente, Dayan Garcia, Yulieski Gourriel, Rudy Reyes, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Aledmis Diaz, Alexander Guerrero and Roberto Carlos Ramirez.

–Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne, Frederich Cepeda, Rusney Castillo, Guillermo Heredia, Alexei Bell and William Luis.

–Pitchers: Yadier Pedroso, Odrisamer Despaigne Dalier Hinojosa, Freddy Asiel Alvarez, Ismel Jimenez, Vladimir Garcia, Norberto Gonzalez, Miguel Lahera, Pablo Millan Fernandez, Yoelkis Cross, Darien Nunez, Alexander Rodriguez, Leandro Martinez, Antonio Romero, Joel Suarez and Vicyohandri Odelin.