CAMAGÜEY.-Transformations in the technical staff of the Toros after the ratification of Miguel Borroto as manager, the beginning of the preparation for the 61st National Baseball Series and the exclusion of several Camagüey's players in the Cuban preselection to the pre-Olympic of the Americas mark the baseball panorama in the beginning of May.
From the offices of “Cándido González” the renovation began: Darío Cid, Felipe Sarduy, Julián Pipper, René Legón, Luciano Mesa and José Ignacio Ruiz will not be present and in their place will be joined Rubén Martínez Puig (Coach), Edilberto Serrano (coach of pitching), Leonel Moas Sr. (assistant), Norberto Martínez (assistant) and Maykel Fernández (statistician).
They continue in the cycle Pedro Luis Lazo, in front of the pitching, and Rolando Valhuertis as physical trainer.
The reconstruction in the directive could add other coaches and specialists, among them Marino Luis.
All possible forces will be guiding the preparation for the upcoming campaign, which began this Monday with pitchers and receivers from an expanded preselection.
The group is headed by: Yosimar Cousín, Lisander Hernández, José Ramón Rodríguez, Juan Sebastián Contreras, Rodolfo Sorís, Yusney Saborit, Adrián Pérez, Carlos Pérez Vergara, Julio César Martínez, Damián Leiva, Sergio Guerra, Marlon Soriano and Alejandro León.
There will also be the recovered Roger Trenchs; Dariel Góngora returns and Roberto Young, Mario Marzo, Yumaikel Macola, Carlos Pedroso, Leonardo Membribe and David Brito join.
In addition, depending on the epidemiological situation, other pitchers from the main municipality will be incorporated.
The receivers who will begin preparation are Yendry Téllez and Jorge Álvarez, along with Isaías Montalvo and Annier Ugalde.
Photo: Alejandro Rodríguez Leiva/ Adelante
FERRER CUTS FIVE BULLS IN ONE HIT
The first baseman Yordanis Samón is the only member of the Toros de la Llanura who was in the preselection that trains in Matanzas for the Pre-Olympic of the Americas after the announcement of the first cut in the group.
Armando Ferrer and his technical group decided to eliminate five people from Camagüey in one fell swoop, leaving only the native of Granma and Yariel Rodríguez, who fulfills his contract with the Chunichi Dragons in the Japanese league.
The exclusions that raise the most controversy are those of shortstop Alexander Ayala and pitcher Frank Madan, as the former was the third best hitter on the set-up tops and the latter was the best pitcher in the recently concluded 60th National Baseball Series.
Some fans on social networks accuse the Matanzas manager of selecting several of his Cocodrilos players over others with higher quality or performance, such as the cases of Erisbel Arruebarruena, who does not even train with the group at this time, or the pitcher Renner Rivero.
In this case, the receiver Andrys Pérez can also be mentioned, as he has received more opportunities than others, including Luis Gómez, also from Camagüey, who only saw action in a confrontational stop after having the best defensive numbers of the season.
Humberto Bravo will also return to Camagüey after being left out of a list that only has a natural second baseman, along with Loidel Chapellí Jr., an outfielder who will surely have other opportunities in the future.
In addition to the bulls cut, the absences of Santiago Torres and Yunior Tur, young people who showed credentials throughout the year, stand out.
All the players hired in Japan through the Cuban Federation are kept in the plans and the novelty was in the exchange of some names from the team that must participate in the 3rd Caribbean Cup.
Ultimately the group was left with five receivers, nine infielders, five outfielders and 13 pitchers.
The preparation of the preselection will continue for the moment at the Victoria de Girón Stadium of Matanzas and they will soon travel to Mexico to carry out the corresponding visa procedures to enter the United States.
Cuba will debut in the Pre-Olympic of the Americas on May 31 against Venezuela.
PRE-SELECTION TO THE PRE-OLYMPIC
Catchers (5): Ariel Martínez (MTZ), Yosvani Alarcón (LTU), Iván Prieto (GRA), Rafael Viñales (LTU) and Andrys Pérez (MTZ).
Infielders (9): Lisbán Correa (IND), Yordanis Samón (CMG), Guillermo Avilés (GRA), César Prieto (CFG), Erisbel Aruuebarrena (MTZ), Yordan Manduley (HOL), Yurisbel Gracial (MTZ), Yadil Mujica (MTZ) and Dayán García ART).
Gardeners (5): Frederich Cepeda (SSP), Roel Santos (GRA), Alfredo Despaigne (GRA), Yadir Drake (MTZ) and Raico Santos (GRA).
Pitchers (13): Lázaro Blanco (GRA), Carlos Juan Viera (LTU), Yoenni Yera (MTZ), Yariel Rodríguez (CMG), Andy Rodríguez (IND), Bryan Chi (IND), Liván Moinelo (PRI), Raidel Martínez (PRI), Frank Abel Álvarez (PRI), Yudiel Rodríguez (LTU), Pablo Luis Guillén (VCL), Naikel Cruz (MTZ) and Renner Rivero (MTZ)
Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez