Cuba Announces Baseball Team for 2014 C.A. & Caribbean Games

By Ray Otero  (Baseballdecuba.com)

HAVANA TIMES — The Cuban Baseball Federation announced on Wednesday its team of 24 players for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games to be held from Nov. 14-30 in Veracruz, Mexico.

There were some notorious absences from the squad of several players with good stats in the current Cuban baseball season.  These include Pinar del Rio shortstop Luis A. Valdes, Guantanamo outfielder Giorvis Duvergel, and pitchers Carlos Juan Viera (Las Tunas) and Jose Angel Garcia (Artemisa).

Another surprise was the including on the team of right-hander Hector Mendoza of the Isla de la Juventud. Mendoza is in Japan and should be returning in the coming days.

Within the Veracruz Games, the baseball tournament will take place from November 15-21. Eight teams will be competing: Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Cuba.

The Cubans seek to recover the title lost at the 2010 games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico when they did not present a team.

Here is the complete team:

Catchers (3): Frank Camilo Morejón (IND), Yulexis La Rosa (VCL) and Yosvani Alarcón (LTU)

Infielders (6): Alexander Malleta (IND), Lourdes Gourriel Jr. (IND), Yuliesky Gourriel (IND), Yordan Manduley (HOL), Yander La O (SCU) and Dainer Moreira (MTZ).

Outfielders (5): Alfredo Despaigne (GRA), Alexei Bell (SCU), Roel Santos (GRA), Frederich Cepeda (SSP) and Yadiel Hernández(MTZ).

Pitchers (10): Freddy Asiel Álvarez(VCL), Norge Luis Ruíz(CMG), Héctor Mendoza (IJV), Yoanni Yera (MTZ), Yosvani Torres (PRI), Yaisel Sierra (HOL), Vladimir Gutiérrez (PRI), Julio Alfredo Martínez (PRI), Cionel Pérez (MTZ) and Jonder Martínez(MTZ).

Manager: Víctor Mesa (MTZ).