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HAVANA (Reuters) – Several Major League Baseball players will join Cuba’s squad for the first time in the upcoming World Baseball Classic tournament, the sport’s Cuban federation said on Friday.<\/p>\n
For decades, players who left the island were barred from joining the national team. Cuba has now signed off on a team that includes 12 Cuban players who have immigrated to join the US or other international teams.<\/p>\n
Long renowned for its baseball prowess, Cuba won gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona, \u200b\u200b1996 Atlanta and 2004 Athens Olympics, but failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.<\/p>\n
Cuban Baseball Federation president Juan Reinaldo Perez said at a press conference that the Caribbean island nation is currently working “to build a competitive team”.<\/p>\n
“This is not a team of stars, it is a team that works by closing the gap,” he added.<\/p>\n
MLB players slated to play in Cuba include Chicago White Sox infielder Yoan Moncada and outfielder Luis Robert Moiran.<\/p>\n
New York Mets pitcher Yoann Lopez and Kansas City Royals pitcher Ronald Bolanos will also join the team.<\/p>\n
Cuba has struggled to fill out its roster over the past few years. Due to the longstanding U.S. embargo on Cuba and recent sanctions, Cuban baseball players wishing to sign with U.S. teams have had to defect from Cuba.<\/p>\n
More than 650 Cuban baseball players have defected to the United States and elsewhere in recent years, according to state media.<\/p>\n
Cuba hopes to start training its new team in Havana on January 15, and is also in talks with authorities in Mexico and the Dominican Republic about holding training and practice matches in those countries.<\/p>\n
Countries must present their final rosters of 30 players for the World Baseball Classic tournament by February 7th.<\/p>\n
Cuba did not consider including players who defected while representing the island in international competition, the federation said.<\/p>\n