Havana, Cuba - Higinio Velez, president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB by its Spanish acronym), said they are talking with the Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball (CBPC by its Spanish acronym) to change their status as guest and to participate as member in the Caribbean Series.

Cubadebate website highlights that as part of the agreement signed by FCB with the US Major Leagues so that Cuban players can be hired on MLB franchises, Cuba requested last Thursday to compete in the aforementioned event with the same privileges of the rest of the CBPC member countries.

The text also says that if Cuba becomes a CBPC member, it could even checked in the future the possibility of being the seat of the Caribbean Series.
Since returning to the tournament in 2014, Cuba has only been able to attend as a guest and not as a full member, because of the blockade imposed by the United States, which had even prevented its presence in this regional competition.

Cuba´s best performance after its return was the one achieved in 2015, when the Pinar del Río Vegueros was crowned in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The next edition of the Caribbean Series will be from next February 2-8 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and Cuba will be represented by Las Tunas, which recently became monarch of the 58th National Baseball Series.

The reinforced roster of Las Tunas was released last Wednesday and was made up of 28 players, including two catchers, seven infielders, six outfielders and 13 pitchers, and managed by Pablo Civil.