The confirmation by the mentor Armando Johnson that the left-handed player from Matanzas, Yoennis Yera, will be the starter for Cuba in the debut of our national team in the Premier 12 tournament against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday 13, cleared the mystery that kept many fans in suspense.

With total determination, the Cuban tactician stated that «it is a collegiate and risky decision, but we have taken it to leave Liván Moinelo for the game against Korea on Thursday 14», which could be the key match for our team in the tournament, even with the possibility of determining the qualification to the next round.

«We are going for the two wins. And we have structured a rotation of pitchers in the preparation games that allows the starter to pitch four innings, at most five, and then give way to the stabilisers and closers,» said Johnson, who does not like to underestimate any opponent, hence «it’s not about saving pitchers, but to go with the best for the strongest game, and fight for that victory against the Dominicans».

Days before the team’s departure, Moinelo had been announced to throw the first innings, but this decision was always conditional on further analysis, which evidently came at the end of the preparation round and seeing the strength of both teams.

Yera, as well as Moinelo accumulate three participations in Premier 12 and this may be his great opportunity for consecration, because in 2015 he only went up to the box against Korea one third and allowed one hit; while 2019 did not demand much work, as he barely threw to a batter in the challenge against the Koreans themselves, who gave him indiscutible to push one of the seven runs in the victory of the Asians.

For his part, Moinelo has two of Cuba’s four smiles in these games, both in a relief role. In 2015 he appeared in three of the five games and took the «cat to water» against Italy (2-1), while also working against Korea and Canada. Four years later he scored the solitary win against Australia in extrainning. His high quality is now above average, hence the fattened contracts in the Japanese Pro League with the Softbank Falcons, with whom he reached the final but failed to lift the trophy.

For the rest of the challenges of this Premier 12: Australia, Japan and Taipei, both Johnson and the head coach of this area, Pedro Luis Lazo, declined to say possible starters, although they must be between Dario Sarduy, Pavel Hernandez and Raymond Figueredo, without ruling out that Yera could do it again against the local team.

«I’m ready and motivated. It’s a team with professional players, but we’re going for that first win, which could put us in a better position to face Korea,» said Yera, who has looked good in the preparatory matches.

On the regular line-up for that first game, mentor Johnson said that Andrew Perez will be at catcher, Ariel Martinez should be in the starting line-up, with Yohan Moncada at third, Erisbel Arruebaruena at shortstop and Yadil Mujica at second, the same infield of the 2023 World Classic.

For the outfield, Roel Santos looks set to cover left field, Yoelkis Guibert in centre and Yadir Drake in right, with Alfredo Despaigne in the designated role. In other words, a starting line-up very similar to the one that won that historic fourth place in the World Classic. Let’s wait for the results.