Tribute to the referees on their Day. Reflections on the state of defense. Cuba would host international events in 2024 and 2025.

Rafael Viñales and Dariel Góngora, both from the Leñadores de Las Tunas, were chosen as the best player and pitcher of subseries three and four of the II Elite League of Cuban Baseball.

The slugger batted 22-8 for a .364 average, hit four home runs, drove in 10 runs, scored five and showed an OPS of 1.371.

Góngora won two games without defeat, pitched a 1.38 ERA with four strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.08.

The traditional baseball press conference was attended by umpire Juan José Cuevas, who has 34 national series and international experience.

His presence and his reflections served as a tribute to the judges and umpires of this sport on a very special day, since December 4 is celebrated as Umpire’s Day in Cuba.

During the meeting, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, national baseball commissioner, analyzed the large number of errors per game during the II Elite League, which he blamed on difficulties in the planning of training in this area.

He assured that this is a problem in the teams of the national series and the Elite League, but also in the national teams. The other thing, he said, is the preparation for the game, the recognition of the field and other factors that can have an impact.

The meeting also discussed the recent incursion in the pre-World Cup tournament of the Americas in the U-23 category, in which Cuba failed to win a ticket to China 2024. Bad pitching was emphasized as a fundamental cause.

It was confirmed that the U-15 pre-World Cup event will be held in February in the Dominican Republic, and that the national competition of that category will begin here on January 26.

Juan Reinaldo specified the willingness to renew the contract with Little League Baseball and informed that Cuba intends to host the Caribbean Baseball Cup in 2025 and a women’s league next year.