A huge slugging first baseman built in the mold of Agustin Marquetti and Antonio Munoz, Alexander Mayeta has emerged as the heart of the national team batting order.

Long considered by this author as the top pitching prospect in Cuba, Circo Silvino Licea enjoyed a career outing for Granma in 2006-2007, winning the league ERA title (1.15) and missing by 1/3 of an inning the league leadership in frames hurled (with 132.2).

Retired in 2003, German Mesa is consensus choice on the island as Cuba’s greatest shortstop ever and widely compared with Ozzie Smith as a gloveman by those outside Cuba who saw him perform.

Lefty swinger Yoandry Urgelles emerged in 2006-2007 as a triple-threat all-star with Havana Industriales.

One of Cuba’s best hurlers of the past decade, Norge Vera trails only the departed Orlando Hernandez in Cuban League career won-lost percentage.

Freddie Cepeda (Sancti Spiritus outfielder) is the author’s firm choice for Cuba’s best all-around player of the early 2000s.

Cuba’s carrer BA leader at .370 (15 seasons), Osmani Urrutia hit .400-plus for five straight seasons in the early 2000s and has one six of the last seven Cuban League batting crowns.