The Las Tunas Lumberjacks roster for the upcoming 64th National Series was announced in the main hall of the Julio Antonio Mella Stadium, with the attendance of the coaching staff.
Las Tunas, Cuba.– With a semi-updated roster, the green-and-red squad, once again under the direction of Abeysi Pantoja, will take the field with the clear goal of competing for the Cuban title for the fifth time and winning their fourth national classic crown, which would be their third in a row.
Among the catchers, Yosvani Alarcón continues to be the leading figure, while Rafael Viñales' absence is notable. But the inclusion of Deismel Hurtado, who was an outfielder in previous seasons, is significant.
Among the infielders, for the first time in decades, one name is missing: Dánel Castro, whose official retirement date is yet to be determined, as the legendary player is not in the country. Meanwhile, it's impossible not to notice the absence of Denis Peña. This reality could be offset not only by the permanence of the Baldoquín brothers and the eldest of the Alarcón brothers, Yordanis, along with familiar faces like Rondón and Otero, but also by the contribution of Luis Antonio Pérez Hemminges, who has already demonstrated his quality in the Elite League and the U-23 National Championship. Henry Quintero and Cristopher Vázquez are also looking for opportunities.
In the outfield, the squad once again displays a luxurious defensive duo of Larduet and Castillo. The third player to join them will be determined by what the aspirants Yasel Izaguirre and Maikel Yordan Molina demonstrate, especially at bat ." Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Osmani Urrutia Jr., who returns after trying his luck in foreign leagues and training camps.
In the box, the Verdirrojos retain the core of their staff, both among starters and relievers. Still, the absence of Yassel Labrada and, especially, Yadier Zamora, whose starts were very effective last postseason, cannot be overlooked. In fact, it is among the pitchers where the Las Tunas team has the most rookies. Eloy Javier Borrego González, Sergio Aurelio Fernández Cutiño, and Héctor Aguilar González, who arrive backed by the talent demonstrated in the recent U-23 tournament.
During the meeting, it was clear that more support is needed from the government and various economic and institutional stakeholders in the region for the Leñadores' preparation to conclude satisfactorily. Emphatically, regarding ensuring a balanced diet and other logistical details necessary for the remaining training sessions, during which the physical load increases considerably.
It was learned that the 64th National Baseball Series will begin on September 2, with no recovery week scheduled for the season. Las Tunas will host the opening game, and the playoffs start in December. As in previous seasons, the top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals scheduled from the 20th to the 28th. The semifinals should begin on January 4, 2026, and the final on the 23rd.
The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation had already announced that the winner will represent Cuba in the Baseball Champions League Americas, scheduled for April of next year.