The absence of baseball players is generating controversy among specialists in the discipline.
14ymedio, Havana, 3 November 2025 — The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation excluded from the national team players from the two-time champion Las Tunas club for the upcoming Copa América. The selection, which determined the 27-player roster for the competition to be held from November 13-22 in Panama, was based, according to federation officials, on “descriptive and predictive statistics, batting average against elite pitchers throwing over 90 miles per hour, tactical effectiveness, and fit to the playing system.” However, the decision has drawn considerable criticism from experts.
Among the athletes who make up Team Asere, as the national baseball team is known, there are no Major League Baseball players. At the end of October, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins prohibited players Jean Walters and Yiddi Cappe, respectively, from playing in the Americas Cup for Cuba. The island’s sports authorities also failed in their efforts to include Francis Eduardo Texidó of the Los Angeles Angels.
The players called up by manager Germán Mesa who have experience in foreign teams are those who play in the tournaments of Japan, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The players called up by manager Germán Mesa who have experience playing for teams abroad are those who play in the tournaments of Japan, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The pro-government journalist Boris Luis Cabrera acknowledged in his report in Prensa Latina that “there will always be details that fuel the controversy,” although he tried to downplay it by pointing out that although “there are names that provoke applause and others that generate frowns, each one chosen has the merits to wear the four letters.”
Cabrera noted that Roberto Sulivan Baldoquín from Las Tunas was left off the roster due to injury. Fans also lamented the absence of players such as Dennis Laza from Mayabeque and Yasiel González from Holguín, “who are currently enjoying strong offensive performances during the regular season.”
Journalist Pavel Otero questioned on his Facebook page “Por La Goma” the marginalization of Mayabeque baseball player Denis Laza, “the most consistent player in Cuba in recent years based on his statistics. He is also a very versatile and necessary athlete, despite his age.”
The commentator emphasized that Laza “is not the classic veteran who can only be used as a designated hitter or pinch hitter,” because, “he still runs, steals bases, bats, bunts, and defends the outfield with the same skills as a 25-year-old.”
On October 20th, the veteran baseball player expressed his enthusiasm for being considered by manager Germán Mesa. “I’m always ready to represent my country because it’s the highest honor a Cuban baseball player aspires to,” he told the program Swing al Aire.
“Again, an injustice has been committed against Denis Laza, one more on his shoulders, and this time with the rejection of almost all Cuban fans,” Otero added.
“Again, an injustice has been committed against Denis Laza, one more on his shoulders, and this time with the rejection of almost all Cuban fans,” Otero added.
In response to the discontent, Boris Luis Cabrera anticipated: “There will be time to criticize later, if the occasion warrants it, because when the ball is thrown in Panama, it won’t be Matanzas, Holguín, or Las Tunas that is playing. It will be Cuba playing.”
The catchers traveling to Panama are Andrys Pérez García, Andy Yaniel Cosme Oliva, and Raidel Abel Sánchez Trutié. The infielders include Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena Escalante, Cristian Leandro Rodríguez García, Luis Vicente Mateo Terry, Tailon Sánchez Díaz, Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodríguez, and Yoel Yanqui Vera.
Joining them will be outfielders Yoelkis Guibert Stevens, Roel Santos Martínez, Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez, Leonel Moas Acevedo, and Francisco José Martínez García. The pitching staff includes Pavel Hernández Bruces, Frank Luis Medina García, Darío Sarduy Medina, Yoennis Yera Montalvo, Armando Abdiel Dueñas Moré, Yunier Batista Ramírez, José Ignacio Bermúdez García, Yunieski García Viera, Yusniel Padrón Artiles, Randy Román Martínez Pacheco, Yadián Martínez Pérez, Michel Alejandro Cabrera Rodríguez, and Geonel Gutiérrez Jiménez.
Along with manager Germán Mesa Fresneda, the following are going: Noelvis González Matos, Pedro Luis Lazo Iglesias, Jesús Bosmenier Rodríguez, Rafael Muñoz Medina, Cecilio Javier Drake Carrera, Humberto Marcos Guevara Yervilla, Omar Linares Izquierdo, Francisco José Montesino Flores and Javier Pérez Peña.
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