Cuba is about to problem the United States in a World Baseball Classic semifinal recreation that’s positive to make historical past Sunday evening in Miami.
Sunday’s crowd needs to be fascinating to look at due to Miami’s giant focus of Cuban-Americans.
And since Cuba has been a communist nation for many years, protests are possible for Sunday’s recreation.
Since the late Fidel Castro took over because the island’s dictator greater than 60 years in the past, Cuba’s nationwide staff has by no means performed in Miami — till Sunday.
Politics apart, Cuba is led by two Chicago White Sox standouts: outfielder Luis Robert and switch-hitting third baseman Yoan Moncada.
Robert, 25, has 40 doubles and 25 homers in 166 video games over his previous two major-league seasons. Moncada, 27, has three seasons with greater than 30 doubles in his major-league profession.
Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who hasn’t performed within the majors since 2020, additionally will compete for Cuba.
But many different Cubans who’re star major-leaguers have opted in opposition to enjoying for his or her native nation, an inventory that features nearer Aroldis Chapman, first baseman Jose Abreu, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, outfielder Jorge Soler and catcher Yasmani Grandal.
It appears apparent that defections to the U.S. have weakened Cuba’s expertise pool by the years. For instance, Cuba didn’t qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, and the nation went 1-6 in final month’s Caribbean Series, ending in final place amongst eight groups.
In addition, Cuba hasn’t been overly spectacular on this yr’s WBC, going 2-2 in pool play after which narrowly defeating Australia 4-3 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals.
However, Cuba supervisor Armando Johnson will disagree with anybody who knocks his roster.
“All the teams that get to this point in the tournament did so because of their own weight,” Johnson stated in Spanish. “I think we deserve respect.”
Certainly, Cuba has an amazing historical past within the Olympics, successful gold in 1992, 1996 and 2004 in addition to silver medals in 2000 and 2008.
But since ending second within the 2006 WBC, Cuba hasn’t positioned no higher than fifth.
On Sunday, the Cubans will face a loaded American lineup that features proper fielder Mookie Betts, middle fielder Mike Trout, third baseman Nolan Arenado, catcher J.T. Realmuto, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Tim Anderson, left fielder Kyle Tucker and designated hitters Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso.
The lineup is so deep that star shortstop Trea Turner bats within the 9 gap.
Turner was the hero of the United States’ 9-7 win over beforehand unbeaten Venezuela on Saturday evening. Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam within the eighth inning for what he referred to as the largest dwelling run of his profession.
“That’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of,” United States supervisor Mark DeRosa stated. “Trea stepped up with an absolute bomb.”
Turner stated the followers had been electrical on Saturday as Venezuela and the United States each had giant rooting sections within the sold-out crowd of 35,000-plus, and issues may get even rowdier on Sunday in opposition to Cuba.
“We’ve been having team meetings, talking about how big this is for everybody — not just us but all sides,” Turner stated of the WBC. “We wanted to match (Venezuela’s) energy. We knew we would be basically playing on the road. The fans were electric.”
–Field Level Media