Cuba at the World Baseball Classic

The Cuban national team during the 2013 World Baseball Classic

The Cuba national baseball team has participated in all six editions of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), the premier international baseball tournament, which determines the sport's world champion.[1]

Despite previous success at the Summer Olympics and the Baseball World Cup, Cuba has never won the World Baseball Classic.[2] The team debuted in the 2006 tournament, where they were runners-up, losing the championship game to Japan.[3] Cuba reached the second round in 2009, 2013 and 2017.[2] In 2023, the team advanced to the semifinals, where it was defeated by the United States.[4] In 2026, the team finished third in its pool and was eliminated in the first round, marking the first time the Cuban team failed to advance beyond the opening round.[5]

Seven Cuban players have been included in the All-World Baseball Classic Team: Yoandy Garlobo, Yuli Gurriel and Yadel Martí in 2006; Frederich Cepeda and Yoenis Céspedes in 2009; and Yoán Moncada and Miguel Romero in 2023.[6][7][8]

Five managers have led the Cuban team in the WBC: Higinio Vélez in 2006 and 2009, Víctor Mesa in 2013, Carlos Martí in 2017, Armando Johnson in 2023, and Germán Mesa in 2026.[9][10][11][12][13]

Record

World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Round Position W L RS RA W L RS RA
Puerto Rico United States 2006 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 44 43 No qualifiers held
Mexico United States 2009 Second round 6th 4 2 36 24 No qualifiers held
Japan 2013 Second round 5th 4 2 45 18 Automatically qualified
Japan 2017 Second round 7th 2 4 23 40 Automatically qualified
Taiwan Japan United States 2023 Semifinals 4th 3 3 31 32 Automatically qualified
Puerto Rico 2026 Pool stage 10th 2 2 13 16 Automatically qualified
Total – 6/6 20 16 192 173 — — — —

Results

  Win   Lose

2006 World Baseball Classic

Pool C 8 March Cuba  8–6 (F/11)  Panama Hiram Bithorn Stadium
14:00 UTC–4 WP: Maya
Sv: Martí
HR: Gurriel		 Boxscore LP: Cortez
HR: Rivera		 Attendance: 6,129
Pool C 9 March Cuba  11–2  Netherlands Hiram Bithorn Stadium
20:00 UTC–4 WP: Romero
Sv: Martí
HR: Garlobo, Urrutia		 Boxscore LP: Markwell
 Attendance: 7,657
Pool C 10 March Puerto Rico  12–2 (F/7)  Cuba Hiram Bithorn Stadium
20:30 UTC–4 WP: González
 Boxscore LP: Borroto
 Attendance: 19,736
Pool 2 12 March Cuba  7–2  Venezuela Hiram Bithorn Stadium
14:00 UTC–4 WP: Martí
Sv: Lazo
HR: Cepeda, Pestano		 Boxscore LP: Santana
HR: Chávez		 Attendance: 13,697
Pool 2 13 March Dominican Republic  7–3  Cuba Hiram Bithorn Stadium
14:00 UTC–4 WP: Pérez
Sv: Rodney
HR: Ortiz		 Boxscore LP: Odelín
HR: Gurriel		 Attendance: 6,594
Pool 2 15 March Cuba  4–3  Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium
20:00 UTC–4 WP: Romero
Sv: Odelín
 Boxscore LP: González
HR: Williams		 Attendance: 19,773
Semifinals 18 March Cuba  3–1  Dominican Republic Petco Park
12:00 UTC–8 WP: Lazo
 Boxscore LP: Pérez
 Attendance: 41,268
Final 20 March Japan  10–6  Cuba Petco Park
18:00 UTC–8 WP: Matsuzaka
Sv: Otsuka
 Boxscore LP: Romero
HR: Paret, Cepeda		 Attendance: 42,696

2009 World Baseball Classic

Pool B 8 March South Africa  1–8  Cuba Foro Sol
20:00 UTC–6 LP: Armitage
 Boxscore WP: Vera
HR: Frederich Cepeda (2), Alfredo Despaigne, Héctor Olivera, Yuli Gurriel, Yoenis Céspedes		 Attendance: 11,270
Pool B 10 March Cuba  5–4  Australia Foro Sol
20:00 UTC–6 WP: Jiménez
HR: Céspedes (2), Peraza		 Boxscore LP: Thompson
 Attendance: 13,396
Pool B 12 March Mexico  4–16 (F/7)  Cuba Foro Sol
20:00 UTC–6 LP: Campos
HR: Sandoval, Robles, García		 Boxscore WP: González
HR: Gurriel, Pestano, Cepeda		 Attendance: 20,149
Pool 1 15 March Japan  6–0  Cuba Petco Park
13:00 UTC–8 WP: Matsuzaka
 Boxscore LP: Chapman
 Attendance: 20,179
Pool 1 16 March Cuba  7–4  Mexico Petco Park
20:00 UTC–8 WP: Vera
Sv: Lazo
 Boxscore LP: Campillo
HR: Cantú, Presichi		 Attendance: 9,329
Pool 1 18 March Japan  5–0  Cuba Petco Park
20:00 UTC–8 WP: Iwakuma
Sv: Sugiuchi
 Boxscore LP: Maya
 Attendance: 9,774

2013 World Baseball Classic

Pool A 3 March Cuba  5–2  Brazil Fukuoka Dome
12:30 UTC+9 WP: Jiménez
Sv: Iglesias
 Boxscore LP: Rienzo
 Attendance: 4,003
Pool A 4 March China  0–12 (F/7)  Cuba Fukuoka Dome
16:30 UTC+9 LP: Li
 Boxscore WP: Betancourt
HR: Bell, Abreu		 Attendance: 3,123
Pool A 6 March Cuba  6–3  Japan Fukuoka Dome
19:00 UTC+9 WP: Pérez
HR: Tomás, Despaigne		 Boxscore LP: Otonari
 Attendance: 26,860
Pool 1 8 March Netherlands  6–2  Cuba Tokyo Dome
12:00 UTC+9 WP: Markwell
HR: Smith, Schoop		 Boxscore LP: Jiménez
HR: Despaigne, Gurriel		 Attendance: 38,588
Pool 1 9 March Chinese Taipei  0–14 (F/7)  Cuba Tokyo Dome
19:00 UTC+9 LP: Lo
 Boxscore WP: Betancourt
HR: Cepeda, Tomás, Abreu, Despaigne		 Attendance: 12,884
Pool 1 11 March Cuba  6–7  Netherlands Tokyo Dome
19:00 UTC+9 LP: Guevara
HR: Abreu		 Boxscore WP: van Mil
HR: Simmons		 Attendance: 7,613

2017 World Baseball Classic

Pool B 7 March Cuba  6–11  Japan Tokyo Dome
19:00 UTC+9 LP: Yera
HR: Despaigne		 Boxscore WP: Ishikawa
HR: Matsuda, Tsutsugo		 Attendance: 44,908
Pool B 8 March China  0–6  Cuba Tokyo Dome
12:00 UTC+9 LP: Luo
 Boxscore WP: Baños
 Attendance: 39,102
Pool B 10 March Australia  3–4  Cuba Tokyo Dome
12:00 UTC+9 LP: Wells
HR: Oeltjen		 Boxscore WP: García
Sv: Lahera
HR: Despaigne		 Attendance: 38,050
Pool E 12 March Cuba  1–4  Israel Tokyo Dome
12:00 UTC+9 LP: Yera
HR: Despaigne		 Boxscore WP: Thornton
Sv: Zeid
 Attendance: 43,153
Pool E 14 March Cuba  5–8  Japan Tokyo Dome
19:00 UTC+9 LP: Lahera
HR: Gracial		 Boxscore WP: Akiyoshi
Sv: Makita
HR: Yamada (2)		 Attendance: 32,717
Pool E 15 March Netherlands  14–1 (F/7)  Cuba Tokyo Dome
12:00 UTC+9 WP: Markwell
HR: Balentien (2), DeCaster, Sams		 Boxscore LP: Blanco
 Attendance: 40,680

2023 World Baseball Classic

Pool A 8 March Cuba  2–4  Netherlands Taichung Stadium
12:00 UTC+8 LP: García
 Boxscore WP: Méndez
Sv: Floranus
 Attendance: 6,501
Pool A 9 March Italy  6–3 (F/10)  Cuba Taichung Stadium
19:00 UTC+8 WP: Festa
 Boxscore LP: Martínez
 Attendance: 6,217
Pool A 10 March Cuba  13–4  Panama Taichung Stadium
12:30 UTC+8 WP: Romero
 Boxscore LP: Hardy
HR: Tejada		 Attendance: 7,023
Pool A 12 March Chinese Taipei  1–7  Cuba Taichung Stadium
12:00 UTC+8 LP: Chen
 Boxscore WP: Leyva
HR: Arruebarrena, Moncada		 Attendance: 18,852
Quarterfinals 15 March Australia  3–4  Cuba Tokyo Dome
19:00 UTC+9 LP: Guyer
HR: Wingrove		 Boxscore WP: Romero
Sv: Martínez
 Attendance: 35,061
Semifinals 19 March Cuba  2–14  United States LoanDepot Park
19:00 UTC–4 LP: Elías
 Boxscore WP: Wainwright
HR: Goldschmidt, Turner (2), Mullins		 Attendance: 35,779

2026 World Baseball Classic

Pool A 6 March Cuba  3–1  Panama Hiram Bithorn Stadium
12:00 UTC+8 WP: Moinelo
Sv: R. Martínez
HR: Guibert, Moncada		 Boxscore LP: Allen
 Attendance: 10,015
Pool A 8 March Colombia  4–7  Cuba Hiram Bithorn Stadium
12:00 UTC+8 LP: Patiño
 Boxscore WP: Larrondo
Sv: R. Martínez
HR: A. Martínez, Arruebarrena		 Attendance: 10,957
Pool A 9 March Cuba  1–4  Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium
19:00 UTC+8 LP: Robaina
 Boxscore WP: Rodríguez
Sv: Díaz
 Attendance: 19,189
Pool A 11 March Canada  7–2  Cuba Hiram Bithorn Stadium
15:00 UTC+8 WP: Quantrill
HR: Toro		 Boxscore LP: Moinelo
 Attendance: 10,610

Head-to-head record

  Positive record   Neutral record   Negative record

Opponent
 Pld
 W
 L
 RS
 RA
 RD
 Win %
 Australia3301310+3100%
 Brazil11052+3100%
 Canada10127–50%
 China220180+18100%
 Chinese Taipei220211+20100%
 Colombia11074+3100%
 Dominican Republic21168–250%
 Israel10114–30%
 Italy10136–30%
 Japan6152343–2016.67%
 Mexico220238+15100%
 Netherlands5142233–1120%
 Panama3302411+13100%
 Puerto Rico312719–1233.33%
 South Africa11081+7100%
 United States101214–120%
 Venezuela11072+5100%
Total (17) 36 20 16 192 173 +19 55.56%

Rosters

2006 World Baseball Classic roster
Cuba Cuba – 2006 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches


2009 World Baseball Classic roster
Cuba Cuba – 2009 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches

  • 22 Enrique Cepero (third base)
  • 34 José Elosegui (pitching)
  • 41 Francisco Escaurido (first base)
  • 21 Lourdes Gourriel (hitting)


2013 World Baseball Classic roster
Cuba Cuba – 2013 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches

  • 27 Ángel Castillo (first base)
  • 30 Primitivo Díaz (third base)
  • 49 Juan de Dios Peña (pitching)
  • 36 Víctor Figueroa (hitting)
  • 35 Jorge Fuentes
  • 16 José Ramón Riscart
  •  6 Pedro Rodríguez


2017 World Baseball Classic roster
Cuba Cuba – 2017 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches

  • 23 Orelvis Ávila (pitching)
  • 46 Orestes Kindelán (hitting)
  • 62 Ciro Licea (pitching)
  • 77 Ramón Rodríguez (third base)
  • 37 Mario Vega (first base)


2023 World Baseball Classic roster
Cuba Cuba – 2023 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches


2026 World Baseball Classic roster
Cuba Cuba – 2026 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches

  • 19 Jesús Bosmenier (pitching)
  • 51 Cecilio Drake (first base)
  • 39 Noelvis González (bench)
  • 37 Humberto Guevara
  • 99 Pedro Luis Lazo (pitching)
  • 50 Omar Linares (hitting)
  • 49 Rafael Muñoz (third base)


Player records

Batting records

Alfredo Despaigne, leader in games played and home runs, and the only Cuban player to appear in five tournaments.

The following are batting records for the Cuba national team in the World Baseball Classic.[14]

Statistic Player Total WBC apps
Games played Alfredo Despaigne262009, 2013, 2017, 2023, 2026
Hits Frederich Cepeda322006, 2009, 2013, 2017
Home runs Alfredo Despaigne72009, 2013, 2017, 2023, 2026
Runs batted in Frederich Cepeda232006, 2009, 2013, 2017
Runs Frederich Cepeda192006, 2009, 2013, 2017

Pitching records

Norberto González, leader in pitching appearances, innings pitched, and strikeouts.

The following are pitching records for the Cuba national team in the World Baseball Classic.[15]

Statistic Player Total WBC apps
Games played Norberto González112006, 2009, 2013
Innings pitched Norberto González17.02006, 2009, 2013
Strikeouts Norberto González142006, 2009, 2013
Ismel Jiménez2009, 2013
Wins Ormari Romero22006
Norge Luis Vera2009
Danny Betancourt2009, 2013
Ismel Jiménez2009, 2013
Miguel Romero2023, 2026
Saves Pedro Luis Lazo22006, 2009
Yadel Martí2006
Raidel Martínez2017, 2023, 2026

Managers

No. Nat. Name WBCs G W L Win % Achievements
1CubaHiginio Vélez2006, 20091495.6431 Silver medal (2006)
2CubaVíctor Mesa2013642.667–
3CubaCarlos Martí2017624.333–
4CubaArmando Johnson2023633.500–
5CubaGermán Mesa2026422.500–
Totals5 managers6 WBCs362016.556

Awards

All-World Baseball Classic Team

References

  1. ↑ "IBAF introduces new Format of International Tournaments". International Baseball Federation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 Nelson, David (19 March 2023). "Has Cuba ever won the World Baseball Classic? Team record in the event". AS USA. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "Japan Beats Cuba in First World Baseball Classic". The New York Times. Associated Press. 20 March 2006. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Bloom, Barry M. (20 March 2023). "World Baseball Classic: Team USA Beats Cuba to Reach Final". Sportico.com. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Cuba is eliminated from the World Baseball Classic after losing to Canada". CiberCuba. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "2006 World Baseball Classic History". MLB.com. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "2009 World Baseball Classic History". MLB.com. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "2023 World Baseball Classic History". MLB.com. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Al fin una decisión". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). Associated Press. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Victor Mesa seguirá en el cargo de manager de la selección de Cuba hasta 2017". San Diego Union-Tribune (in Spanish). EFE. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Carlos Martí dirigirá Cuba en el Clásico Mundial" (in Spanish). Granma.cu. 26 February 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Sánchez Serra, Oscar (20 September 2022). "Armando Johnson will guide the Cuban team through the World Classic". Granma. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Baseball legend Germán Mesa to manage Cuba at World Baseball Classic 2026". WBSC.org. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "2026 World Baseball Classic Media Guide" (PDF). World Baseball Classic, Inc. p. 57. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  15. ↑ World Baseball Classic, Inc. p. 58.
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