We finally know which players will be competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. All teams are releasing their rosters, including Cuba. Headlines have revolved more around who ultimately pulled out or wasn’t included of late and for once this isn’t exclusive to Cuba. It might still affect their roster to the greatest degree but they don’t own the patent on dysfunctional roster construction for once.
Cuba will compete in Pool A where host and prohibitive favourite Puerto Rico has been weakened due to insurance constraints blocking much of their top talent. Oddly the ability to insure Major Leaguers with injury histories wasn’t a concern for American or Japanese competitors and this wasn’t lost on the Puerto Rican baseball mind trust. They threatened to pull their team and decline hosting, which felt more like posturing this close to the event. Cooler heads have prevailed but anticipation for Pool A has also cooled as it feels like we’re getting a diluted bracket compared to what was anticipated just weeks ago.
Roadblocks to compiling Cuba’s top talented roster aren’t new. Andy Ibanez, Daysbel Hernandez and Andy Pages are all Major League talents who declined late. Each stated they prefer to focus on spring training and either making or cementing their place on a Major League roster. The Cuban Baseball Federation may have made their decisions easier as some have also said their inclusion was taken for granted and little contact happened in the run up. Pressure from the Cuban Diaspora in Florida may have cemented or at the very least resonated greater than the lack of communication from the baseball brass on the island.
Luis Robert was the biggest inclusion in 2023 and he stated he had no interest this go round unless all Cubans including Americans of Cuban descent were included. Lest we forget comments that Yasmany Tomas was excluded last time because Robert was holding down Centre Field. This despite the fact nobody has or would confuse Tomas as having the tools to cover the biggest outfield position. Tomas is currently playing in Havana and arguably his pedigree and power could be an asset at first base, but he will not get the chance. Angels shortstop Zach Neto was the most exciting player speculated to fall into the Cuban-American category. Neto expressed interest and no one can say definitively if Cuban-Americans were ever truly considered. That is a bit of an overview of who isn’t here and why, but who will be?
Foundationally this roster looks quite similar to 2023 at least if we consider who contributed the most during that tournament. I’d be remiss not to mention that Yoenis Cespedes is missing but he couldn’t shake the injury bug last edition and injuries ultimately cost him his MLB career. His 2023 cameo to this point has been his swan song on a high profile baseball diamond.
The pitching staff is anchored by high profile hurlers with success in the Japanese pro league. Raidel Martinez is back as the closer and might be even better than he was last time. Livan Moinelo was a similar type of pitcher until Softbank took a risk and converted him to a starter. That risk paid off as he took home the 2025 league MVP and now is perhaps the best non-MLB Ace in the entire tournament. Yariel Rodriguez is going in the opposite direction in terms of role. The revelation who led the rotation last time, left Japan and Cuba and signed with the Blue Jays. His inclusion is thus unique in being the first player to break such an arrangement and repatriate. The Blue Jays granted permission under the guise he can only pitch out of the bullpen and in max 2 inning stints.
The rest of the staff feels somewhat interchangeable or leans more towards depth over obvious top end talent. Luis Miguel Romero was electric in relief for Cuba in 2023 and his resume mirrors many of the profiles. Limited minor league success followed by up and down consistency in Caribbean leagues. Yoan Lopez might be the most recognizable name in at least having shown flashes in MLB, Japan and myriad other professional leagues. The diminished amount of MLB talent in the opening round could give Cuba an advantage if managed properly.
Yoan Moncada returns and represents the only Major League position player. He recently resigned with the Angels for one year and $4 million. Once the top prospect in the entire world, he has shown glimpses when healthy. He might be the replacement for Los Angeles for the only player he has been healthier than in Anthony Rendon. Can he use this tournament to build towards a healthy and productive season in Anaheim and sign another solid contract?
Yoelkis Guibert might be the best hitter still on the island of Cuba. He was clutch in 2023 and reclaims his right field job. A smooth left handed hitter that has had success in multiple caribbean pro leagues he could be over exposed against next level talent but always puts together competitive at bats at the least.
Alfredo Despaigne is the all-time WBC home run leader and seems timeless but time is undefeated. You never want to bet against the slugger who might be the best Cuban bopper to not appear in the Majors but his inclusion might have been necessitated by the late exclusion of other talents. He or at least his legacy might be the biggest winner of the roster turmoil and being able to settle into the DH role could set the stage for a moment in what figures to be his International Swan Song.
Alexei Ramirez parlayed his performance in the inaugural WBC in 2006 into a long and successful Major League career. He returned to the Cuban National Series in 2024 and now twenty years later returns to the Cuban National/World Baseball Classic Team. He is no longer the dynamic centerfielder or short stop who seemed to have more energy than a coil but is still a dangerous hitter who has moved to first base.
The rest of the roster except for Yiddi Cappe who is still young enough to fit into the Miami Marlins plans someday might have already maxed out at their top level or peaked as quadruple A players. This is an intriguing mix despite the exclusion of Pro players that seemed inevitable little yet the best Cuban players who unfortunately never considered playing for their home country. Cuba could mirror their success from 2023 and advance perhaps as far as the quarter finals where the wheat gets separated from the chaff when you face the Dominican, United States or Japan. Pool A is also deep with Canada looking to advance for the first time, Panama and Colombia making perpetual strides and Puerto Rico always dangerous. A fifth place finish would be disastrous and force Cuba to qualify for the 2030 Classic.
My prediction Cuba finishes third in Pool A trailing Canada and Puerto Rico.
