We’re used to hearing about the USA All-Star Game in July. But next Sunday, another All-Star Game will take place, this time in Cuba’s league.
The line-ups for the West and East teams in the 2022 Cuban National Series All-Star Game (ASG) have been announced, as revealed today by the Cuban Baseball Federation. The lists were unveiled earlier this afternoon in Jit, Cuba’s leading sports newspaper.
A total of 26 players have been selected per team, with Mayabeque’s manager Michael González leading the West team, while Sancti Spíritus’s manager Eriel Sánchez will be in charge of the East All-Star team.
A change in the selection process for both teams is that players selected from the Sancti Spíritus team will now be part of the East All-Star list, while players from the Villa Clara team, included in the ASG, will play for the West team. The geographical position of the two territories—the province of Sancti Spíritus is closest to the eastern part of Cuba, while the province of Villa Clara is closest to the western part of the island—has been the key factor in this significant change for this year and future games.
The 2022 All-Star Weekend will feature the Home Run Derby and the traditional « skills competition » for players on Saturday, March 18th at 2:00 PM (ET), followed by a Little League exhibition game featuring teams from Bayamo (Granma) and Matanzas. On Sunday, March 19th at 2:00 PM (ET), the 2022 All-Star Game will be played at the Victoria de Girón stadium in Matanzas.
2022 ASG – West Roster:
Pitchers (10): Yulián Quintana (mai), Yosvani Torres (Pri), Naykel Cruz (Mtz), Erlis Casanova (Pri), Yoenni Yera (Mtz), Marlon Vega (mai), Hermes González (Cfg), Kendry Hernández (Ijv), Yamichel Pérez (Mtz) and Luis A. Padrino (Ijv).
Catchers (2): Richel López (Cfg) and Oscar Valdés (Ind).
Infielders (8): Yasiel Santoya (Ind), Reidel Pedraza (Vcl), Osbel Pacheco (Art), Juan M. Martínez (Mai), Andrés Hernández (Ind), Dayán García (Art), Juan C. Arencibia (Pri), and Sandy Menocal (ind.).
Outfielders (5): Juan C. López (Vcl), Yasniel González (mai), Carlos de la Tejera (Art), Eliseo Rojas (Ijv) and Yusniel Ibáñez (Cfg).
DH (1): William Saavedra (Pri).
Manager: Michael González (mai).
2022 ASG – East Roster:
Pitchers (10): Ariel E. Zequeira (Ssp), Danny Betancourt (Scu), Joen Socarrás (Ssp), Yoandri Montero (Scu), Juan S. Contreras (Cmg), César García (Grm), Alexander Valiente (Gtm), Carlos Juan Viera (Ltu), Alejandro Meneses (Ltu) and Kelbis Rodríguez (Grm).
Catchers (2): Rafael Viñales (Ltu) and Alfredo Fadraga (Cav).
Infielders (8): Yordanis Samón (Cmg), Pedro P. Revilla (Gtm), Raúl González (Cav), Dasiel Sevila (Scu), Adriel Labrada (Scu), Yordanis Alarcón (Ltu), Alexander Ayala (Cmg) and Moisés Esquerrés (Ssp).
Outfielders (5): Yoelkis Guibert (Scu), Over L. Cremé (Gtm), Alexquemer Sánchez (Grm), Carlos Gómez (Ssp) and Leonel Moas (Cmg).
DH (1): Frederich Cepeda (Ssp).
Manager: Eriel Sánchez (Ssp).
