SSOD Hard Fanatics: Summer Job WBC 2023 Feature : Yoan Moncada

I had the credentials when I accepted Fanatics’ offer as a customer associate and my iPhone to capture the 2023 World Baseball Classic through videos, photos, and blog posts. This was my chance to capture the Cuban National Team playing at LoanDepot Park in my hometown and other countries' best ballplayers. The fans who attended the championship game at Miami’s baseball dome saw Japan defeat the USA National team with late-inning hits and great pitching from Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish. 

"2023, Cristopher Avello"

"2023, Cristopher Avello"

But what mainstream media missed, and I focused on while attending this early-year classic, is the return of Cuban baseball. After decades of dominance, Cuba missed four baseball classic semifinals and faced a win-or-go-home match against Australia in the Tokyo Dome. 

"2023, World Baseball Classic"

Also, Yoan Moncada, a talented Cuban baseball player raised in the historical parks and baseball facilities of Abreus, Cuba would play one guarantee game against US Baseball. He first grabbed the spotlight as a Major League prospect at the 16U World Championships in 2010, and he has two years of professional experience in the Cuban Serie Nacional, where he hit .283 with 13 stolen bases as a 17-year-old in 2012-13, then hit .273 with a .771 OPS as an 18-year-old in 2013-14.

His talents were awarded with a record breaking signing contract with the Boston Red Sox totaling $31.5 million dollars.

Moncada made his Major League debut in September of 2016,  after being named by Baseball America as the 2016 Minor League Player of the Year and hitting .294/.407/.511 with 31 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 72 walks, 94 runs scored and 45 stolen bases over 106 games between Class A Salem and Class AA Portland. Moncada has been one of the top hitters in Cuba’s lineup, posting a .421 batting average with a 1.259 on-base-plus-slugging, one home run, three doubles, five RBI, four walks and three runs scored in five WBC games.

 Four other regulars in Cuba’s lineup are hitting at least .400 — outfielder Roel Santos (.429), designated hitter Alfredo Despaigne (.412), first baseman Yadir Drake (.412) and infielder Yadil Mujica (.400). Luis Robert who plays with Moncada for the MLB team Chicago White Sox will also be joining the Cuban National team in Miami.

MLB and Minor- League players in December were granted permission by the United States to be included on Cuba’s roster - for the first time MLB players were allowed to compete for Cuba. The White Sox recently declined Moncada’s team option of $25 million for the 2025 season. He appeared in just 12 games this past season and has struggled with injuries as of late. As rumors continue to circulate, Moncada should continue receiving interest by way of his defense. As for Cuba, this team has found a place in Cuban baseball history.