Due to the leadership he showed in the current season, the Avilanian pitcher Yunier Batista Ramírez is training, alongside 17 other players from the national pre-selection squad, at the Latinoamericano stadium, with a view to two international tournaments: the Americas Series and the World Baseball Classic.
Although the Ciego de Ávila Tigers finished in 14th place in the overall standings of this National Baseball Series, with 28 victories and 45 defeats, Yunier Batista had a quite effective performance.
Always functioning as a relief pitcher, he pitched 78 and two-thirds innings. Despite the adverse record of his team, he achieved a positive record of 10 wins and five losses, according to statistics from the official Cuban baseball site.
In addition to an earned run average (2.29) well below his team’s average, Yunier Batista demonstrated dominance over rivals, who batted a mere .201 against him, and moderate control, delivering 67 strikeouts and conceding 34 bases on balls.
Following his debut in 2023 at the highest level, he has been one of the standout players for Ciego de Ávila. His contribution from the mound was necessary for the Tigers’ championship in the III Cuban Baseball Elite League.
At the international level he has also proven his quality: he closed the game that earned Cuba the bronze medal and qualification for the Under-23 World Cup at last year’s 2025 Pan American Championship in that category. To end the year on a high note, he was selected as the most outstanding athlete in team sports for his province.
In 2026, the Greater of the Antilles will face two highly significant commitments. First, the Americas Series, from 5 to 13 February in Venezuela. The following month, Cuba will play in Group A of the World Baseball Classic.
With the aim of forming part of the official rosters, Batista is preparing these days at the Coloso del Cerro, alongside other players whose teams also did not advance to the National Series postseason. Here, all those called up:
1.- Raidel Sánchez Trutié (Utility/SCU)
2.- Harold Vázquez Rizo (Catcher/SCU)
3.- Luis Vicente Mateo Terry (Infielder/CFG)
4.- Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena Escalante (Infielder/CFG)
5.- Yulieski Remón Tejada (Infielder/GRA)
6.- Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodríguez (Infielder/PRI)
7.- Tailon Sánchez Díaz (Infielder/PRI)
8.- Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez (Outfielder/GRA)
9.- Leonel Moa Acevedo (Outfielder/CMG)
10.- Roel Santos Martínez (Outfielder/GRA)
11.- Yoelquis Gibert Steven (Outfielder/SCU)
12.- Yoel Yanqui Vera (Outfielder/SCU)
13.- Liván Moinelo Pita (Pitcher/PRI)
14.- Raidel Martínez Pérez (Pitcher/PRI)
15.- Yunier Batista Ramírez (Pitcher/CAV)
16.- Randy Román Martínez Pacheco (Pitcher/PRI)
17.- Frank Abel Álvarez Díaz (Pitcher/PRI)
18.- Frank Luis Medina García (Pitcher/PRI).
