Baseball in Cuba isn't just a game. It is a religion, a political chess piece, and a source of immense national pride that has spent the last decade in a bit of a tailspin. If you grew up watching international ball, you remember the "Red Machine." They were the guys who didn't just win; they embarrassed people. Between 1992 and 2004, the Cuban baseball national team won three Olympic gold medals and basically treated the Baseball World Cup like a private trophy room, winning 25 titles in total.
But things are different now. Honestly, it’s kinda heartbreaking for purists. The team that used to be a lock for the finals is now scrapping just to stay in the top ten of the WBSC rankings. As of late 2025, they’ve slipped to 10th place globally. The reasons? It’s a messy mix of economics, a broken domestic system, and a constant stream of talent heading for the exit.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic: A Glimmer of Hope?
March 2026 is circling on everyone’s calendar because the World Baseball Classic (WBC) is coming back. For a long time, the Cuban federation (FCB) wouldn't touch MLB players with a ten-foot pole. They called them "deserters." Then 2023 happened. They finally let some big-league names like Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada suit up. It worked. They made the semifinals, even if the U.S. eventually crushed them 14-2 in Miami.
For 2026, the strategy is similar, but the logistics are a nightmare. Manager Germán Mesa has been working through a preliminary 50-man roster. The big news? He’s trying to secure some serious heat.
✨ Don't miss: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
- Liván Moinelo: The absolute ace. He’s been dominant in Japan (NPB) with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, posting a ridiculous 1.46 ERA in 2025.
- The MLB Factor: While some guys like Andy Pagés (Dodgers) are reportedly sitting this one out, we’ve seen names like Zach Neto (Angels) and Yariel Rodríguez (Blue Jays) pop up in discussions.
- The Legend: Believe it or not, 44-year-old Alexei Ramirez—the "Cuban Missile"—was mentioned on the preliminary list. Talk about a throwback.
Cuba is slated for Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They'll be facing Panama, Canada, Colombia, and the hosts. It’s a shark tank. If they can’t get their pitching staff sorted, it’s going to be a short trip.
Why the Domestic Game is Hurting
You can’t talk about the Cuban baseball national team without talking about the Serie Nacional. This used to be the factory for legends like Omar Linares and Orestes Kindelán. Now? It’s struggling.
The 2024 season was a tough watch. The league average for pitching ERA was a bloated 5.29. Defensively, the league committed nearly 1,500 errors. That’s not just a bad week; that’s a structural collapse. Most of the top-tier pitchers are only sitting at 85-88 mph. In a world where every 19-year-old in a Dominican academy is throwing 98, that doesn't cut it.
🔗 Read more: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
The economic crisis in Cuba means there aren't enough bats, balls, or even fuel to move teams across the island easily. When a kid shows promise, they aren't thinking about the Serie Nacional championship; they’re thinking about the quickest route to a contract in Mexico, Japan, or the States. It’s hard to build a "national" team when your best assets are scattered across the globe.
The Premier12 Disaster and Recent Form
If the 2023 WBC was a high point, the 2024 Premier12 was the floor. Cuba finished 11th. Out of 12 teams. They won exactly one game and lost four.
People in Havana were furious. The state media, which usually tries to spin things, couldn't ignore the fact that the team looked lost. They lost to South Korea 8-4 and couldn't even manage to beat a struggling Dominican Republic squad. It was the worst performance in the history of that specific tournament for Cuba.
💡 You might also like: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Why do they keep losing?
- Tactical Lag: Cuban managers often rely on old-school small ball. It’s 2026. Data and analytics have changed the game, and Cuba is still playing like it’s 1995.
- The Talent Drain: Since 1991, hundreds of players have defected. Even with the new "Team Asere" concept allowing some pros back, the bridge is still shaky.
- Lack of Competition: Playing the same 16 local teams doesn't prepare you for a 99-mph fastball from a Japanese reliever or a clinical American lineup.
The Politics of the Diamond
The "Team Asere" movement—the idea of a unified team of island-based and exile players—is controversial. Many fans in Miami still refuse to support a team tied to the Cuban government. They see the players as "chattel" for a regime. On the flip side, the players just want to represent their flag.
There’s also the legal side. The U.S. government has to grant specific licenses for these players to participate because of the embargo. Every tournament feels like it could be the last time this hybrid roster works. Just recently, Cuba was snubbed for the 2026 Caribbean Series, a move the Cuban Federation called "disrespectful." It just goes to show how much red tape surrounds every pitch.
What to Watch for Next
If you're following the Cuban baseball national team, keep your eyes on the final 30-man roster for the 2026 WBC. The inclusion of NPB stars like Moinelo and Raidel Martínez is non-negotiable if they want to survive Pool A. Also, watch the development of Yoelkis Guibert. He’s been a bright spot, hitting .346 with a .523 OBP in the domestic league. He’s one of the few "local" players who can hang with international pitching.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Track the NPB Stats: Since most of Cuba's elite pitching is in Japan, watching the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks or Chunichi Dragons box scores is the best way to scout the "real" national team arms.
- Monitor the OFAC Rulings: The availability of MLB-based players for 2026 depends entirely on U.S. Department of the Treasury licenses. If those aren't renewed or expanded, Cuba reverts to a purely local roster, which likely won't make it out of the first round.
- Watch the Youth Tiers: Surprisingly, the U-12 and U-15 teams have stayed competitive. If the federation can find a way to keep these kids on the island (or at least in a legal pipeline), the 2030s might look better than the 2020s.
The era of Cuban dominance is over, but the era of the "global" Cuban team is just beginning. It’s messy, it’s political, and it’s complicated—but it’s still the most interesting story in international baseball.