Former Major League all-around player Jose Oquendo will have quite a bit of talent as he hopes to guide the Puerto Rico national team at least to the second round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Home Field Advantage In Opening Round
Puerto Rico will have the home field advantage as they face 2009 co-favorites Dominican Republic, Netherlands and Panama in the first round of the World Baseball Classic from March 7-11 at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The top two in the group will advance to a second round of eliminators against two teams from the Toronto group consisting of United States, Canada, Venezuela and Italy.
Undefeated Into 2006 Second Round
Puerto Rico won all three of their first round games in the 2006 Classic but then lost two of three games in the second round and watched Cuba and the Dominican Republic advance from that pool.
Puerto Rican Winter League Re-Opened
Baseball in Puerto Rico took a big hit two years ago when the Puerto Rican Winter League folded. But the league re-opened just one year later and then San Juan was awarded the right to host a first round pool of the 2009 Classic.
Suspect Pitching
Oquendo, one of the few players in the Majors to have played all nine positions in one season in 1988, will have to hope his pitching staff plays over their collective head. Among the starters are veteran righty Javier Vazquez, Pittsburgh right-hander Ian Snell, Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez and St. Louis's Joel Pineiro. The bullpen includes the Mets' Pedro Feliciano, Philadelphia's J.C. Romero, Saul Rivera of Washington and Kiko Calero of Oakland.
Plenty Of Offense
Oquendo will likely have some very tough decisions when he cuts his 45-man preliminary roster to 28 - including a mandatory 13 pitchers - by February 24. But the manager definitely has loads of offensive weapons. Among the catchers are National League Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto of the Cubs, veteran Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and the Molina brothers Bengie and Yadier. The loaded infield includes veteran slugger Carlos Delgado, young talent Mike Aviles and Felipe Lopez. And the outfield is led by the Mets' Carlos Beltran and Alex Rios of Toronto.
Lowell And Bernie Williams Still Question Marks
Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell has been added to the 45-man roster but is rehabbing from hip surgery and may not be able to play. And legendary New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams is hoping to make a comeback even though the 40-year-old hasn't played since 2006.
Puerto Rico's 24-Man Roster
Name, Bats/Throws, Height, Weight, Birth Date
PITCHERS
Giancarlo Alvarado, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 210lbs (95kg), 01/24/1978
Fernando Cabrera, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 220lbs (100kg), 11/16/1981
Pedro Feliciano, L/L, 5'10" (178cm), 190lbs (86kg), 08/25/1976
Nelson Figueroa, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 205lbs (93kg), 05/18/1974
Carlos Gutierrez, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 205lbs (93kg), 09/22/1986
Javier Lopez, L/L, 6'4" (193cm), 220lbs (100kg), 07/11/1977
Ivan Maldonado, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 230lbs (104kg), 06/07/1980
Josue Matos, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 190lbs (86kg), 03/15/1978
Saul Rivera, S/R, 5'10" (178cm), 185lbs (84kg), 12/07/1977
Orlando Roman, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 210lbs (95kg), 11/28/1978
J.C. Romero, S/L, 5'11" (180cm), 205lbs (93kg), 06/04/1976
Jonathan Sanchez, L/L, 6'2" (188cm), 190lbs (86kg), 11/19/1982
Jose Santiago, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 225lbs (102kg), 11/05/1974
Ian Snell, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 200lbs (91kg), 10/30/1981
Javier Vazquez, R/R, 6'2" (188cm), 210lbs (95kg), 07/25/1976
CATCHERS
Yadier Molina, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 220lbs (100kg), 07/13/1982
Ivan Rodriguez, R/R, 5'9" (175cm), 190lbs (86kg), 11/30/1971
Geovany Soto, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 225lbs (102kg), 01/20/1983
INFIELDERS
Mike Aviles, R/R, 5'9" (175cm), 195lbs (88kg), 03/13/1981
Alex Cora, L/R, 6'0" (183cm), 200lbs (91kg), 10/18/1975
Carlos Delgado, L/R, 6'3" (191cm), 265lbs (120kg), 06/25/1972
Andy Gonzalez, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 205lbs (93kg), 12/15/1981
Felipe Lopez, S/R, 6'0" (183cm), 205lbs (93kg), 05/12/1980
Ramon Vazquez, L/R, 5'11" (180cm), 195lbs (88kg), 08/21/1976
OUTFIELDERS
Carlos Beltran, S/R, 6'1" (185cm), 205lbs (93kg), 04/24/1977
Hiram Bocachica, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 195lbs (88kg), 03/04/1976
Jesus Feliciano, L/L, 6'0" (183cm), 174lbs (79kg), 06/06/1979
Alex Rios, R/R, 6'5" (196cm), 215lbs (98kg), 02/18/1981
Bernie Williams, S/R, 6'2" (188cm), 205lbs (93kg), 09/13/1968
