Cuba national baseball team

Cuba national baseball team
Information
Country  Cuba
Federation Baseball Federation of Cuba
Confederation Pan American Baseball Confederation
Manager Victor Mesa
Uniforms
World Baseball Classic
Appearances 4 (First in 2006)
Best result 2nd (1 time, in 2006)
Olympic Games
Appearances 5 (First in 1992)
Best result 1st (3 times, most recent in 2004)
World Cup
Appearances 35 (First in 1939)
Best result 1st (25 times, most recent in 2005)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances 13 (First in 1979)
Best result 1st (10 times, most recent in 2006)
Pan American Games
Appearances 15 (First in 1951)
Best result 1st (12 times, most recent in 2007)

The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up from the most professional players from the Cuban national baseball system. Cuba has been described as a baseball powerhouse[1] and currently ranks 4th in IBAF's world rankings.[2] It has medalled in all five Olympics in which baseball was played.[3]

Cuba played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Current roster

Cuba roster - 2017 World Baseball Classic
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

 Manager

Coaches

World Baseball Classic, Olympics, and IBAF World Cup history

2006 WBC

Cuba participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic tournament, though there was controversy over Cuban involvement, due to the United States embargo against Cuba. Cuba reached the finals of the tournament, but lost in the final to Japan by a score of 10-6.

2009 WBC

Cuba again participated in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, playing its first round games in Pool B at Foro Sol in Mexico City. Cuba advanced to the second round with wins over South Africa and Australia. However, they lost to Japan twice in the 2nd round, and were eliminated. It was their first elimination before the finals in an international tournament since 1951.

2013 WBC

For the third time ever, Cuba participated in the WBC, this time in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in Pool A in the Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka, Japan, facing off against China, Japan, and newcomers Brazil. The Cuban team beat all three teams to proceed to the second round in Pool 1 to face off against the Netherlands, losing 6-2 in the first preliminary round. They played Chinese Taipei, winning 14-0 to face off against the Dutch team once again, but lost 7-6, thus eliminating the Cuban team from reaching the finals for the second time.

2017 WBC

Cuba participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Cuban hitters Frederich Cepeda and Alfredo Despaigne had each hit six home runs in the WBC in their careers, tied for the most in World Baseball Classic history.[4]

The team had a 2-1 record in the first round.[5][6] It was led by slugger Despaigne, who took over as the all-time WBC home-run leader.[3]

Team Cuba advanced into the second round, where it lost its first game to undefeated Pool A winner Team Israel.[5][7][8][9] Former Major League starting pitcher Jason Marquis (in 5.2 innings) and three Team Israel relief pitchers (including Brad Goldberg and Josh Zeid, who both threw 96 mph fastballs) kept Team Cuba to five hits and one run, a homer by Despaigne, who became the all-time World Baseball Classic home run leader.[10][11][12] Pool A MVP catcher Ryan Lavarnway had two hits for Israel.[10] Cuba went on to lose all 3 games they played and failed to advance to the championship round.

Olympics

The Cuban team has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1992. It has been the most successful team at the Olympics. In the five tournaments contested, they have won the gold medal three times, and the silver twice.

IBAF World Cup

2009 IBAF World Cup

Cuba was originally slated to host the 2009 Baseball World Cup, however, they willingly gave up the honor to Europe. In an effort to help baseball grow as a sport in Europe, the Baseball World Cup was hosted by a whole continent for the first time in history. The 2009 Baseball World Cup took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries hosted and participated in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of 20 teams. Italy (Bollate, Bologna, Codogno, Florence, Macerata, Milano, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, San Marino, Torino, Trieste, Verona & Vicenza) and Netherlands (Rotterdam, Haarlem & Amsterdam) served as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes. The groups are as follows:[13]

International tournament results

Cuban team lining up prior to the gold medal game in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup against the Netherlands

World Baseball Classic

 Cuba
World Baseball Classic
Tournament Results
Puerto Rico / United States 2006 2nd
Mexico / United States 2009 6th
Japan 2013 5th
Japan 2017 7th
Medal Tally
Gold		 -
Silver		 2006
Bronze		 -
World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Round Position W L RS RA W L RS RA
2006 Final 2nd 5 3 44 43 No qualifiers held
2009 Round 2 6th 4 2 36 24 No qualifiers held
2013 Round 2 5th 4 2 45 18 Automatically qualified
2017 Round 2 7th 2 4 23 40 Automatically qualified
Total 4/4 15 11 148 125 - - - -

Olympics

IBAF World Cup

Intercontinental Cup

  • Gold: 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2006
  • Silver: 1981, 1997, 1999

Pan American Games

Central American & Caribbean Games

  • Gold: Won Gold 14 out of the 17 Central American and Caribbean Games.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Baseball World Cup big news in Cuba, no matter the outcome". CNN. 2009-09-28.
  2. ↑ "IBAF World Rankings" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 "World Baseball Classic: Israel continues to shock the world, beats Cuba 4-1," Haaretz.
  4. ↑ "Blue-and-white takes on Cuba in Tokyo," The Jerusalem Post.
  5. 1 2 Cuba Qualifies for Second Round in WBC | Escambray
  6. ↑ Cuba tops Australia, reaches second round of World Baseball Classic
  7. ↑ "Despaigne's grand slam sends Cuba to second round of WBC," The Japan Times.
  8. ↑ "World Baseball Classic roundup: Dominican Republic cruises" | SI.com
  9. ↑ Cuba vs. Israel Wrapup | 03/11/17 | World Baseball Classic
  10. 1 2 "Israel beats Cuba to stay unbeaten in WBC '17". Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Jason Marquis on dominant run in WBC '17". Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  12. ↑ "Josh Zeid leading Israel's strong bullpen". Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "IBAF announces groups for first round of 2009 Baseball World Cup" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  14. ↑ "IBAF World Cup 2009 in Europe". Archived from the original on 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-03-15.

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