US permits MLB players to represent Cuba in World Baseball Classic
The United States has granted a license for Cuban MLB players to represent their country in the World Baseball Classic to be held next year.
At last, Cuba will be able to take players who are playing in Major League Baseball to the World Baseball Classic and defend the colors of the Caribbean island. .
“We have received a communication from the organizers of the Classic announcing that the license requested by them was granted so that the Cuba team can register Cuban athletes on its roster, whether they are from MLB or not, who have residence in the United States”, as reported by the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB).
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Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the FCB, recognized that the granting of the permit is “a positive step” and added that “it was the only fair solution to the issue”.
Confirmed participation with Cuba
So far, the Major League Baseball players who have already confirmed their presence in the Cuban team are Andy Ibáñez of the Detroit Tigers and Yoan López of the New York Mets.
Pardo also pointed out that Cuba is not only the founder of these competitions, but also earned its inclusion by qualifying like the rest of the 19 teams that will participate in the World Classic.
The competition will take place from March 8 to 21, 2023 in the cities of Taichung in Taiwan; Tokyo, Japan; and in Phoenix and Miami in the United States.