Tony Castro was named the Vice President of the Cuban Baseball Federation while 2006 World Baseball Classic Manager Higinio Velez was named President on June 11, 2008.
The Jose Antonio Huelga Tournament took place in the first half of June where Cuba fielded two teams, Red and Blue, while Puerto Rico and Venezuela rounded out the competition. The Blue team won the tournament beating the Red team in the championship game. From this they will select a team that will represent them in Holland in preparation for the Olympics.
The following were selected:
C: Rolando Meriño, Ariel Pestano*, Yosvany Peraza and Eriel Sánchez*
IF: Alexander Malleta, Yoandry Garlobo*, Héctor Olivera, Eduardo Paret*, Yulieski Gourriel*, Michel Enríquez* and Luis Miguel Navas
OF: Giorvis Duvergel, Frederich Cepeda*, Yoandry Urgellés, Alexei Bell, Yoennis Céspedes, Alfredo Despaigne, Leonis Martín and Osmani Urrutia*
P: Pedro Luis Lazo*, Norge Luis Vera, Yunieski Maya*, Jonder Martínez*, Yulieski González*, Miguel Lahera, Yadier Pedroso*, Adiel Palma*, Norberto González*, Elier Sánchez, Ismel Jiménez, Luis Miguel Rodríguez and Vicyohandri Odelín*
*WBC participants
The Cuban team also hosted the Santa Barbara Foresters in a three game series from June 21-23.
