Crocodiles Fine-Tune Details Ahead of the 65th National Series

The Matanzas Crocodiles, champion team of the 64th National Series, continue fine-tuning details ahead of the upcoming domestic baseball season at the facilities of the University of Matanzas.

The western team is in its sixth week of preparation at the Yumurino higher education institution, working on the elements that weighed down performance in the fourth edition of the Cuban Elite Baseball League, in which they finished in last place.

Jonder Martínez, head of the pitching area, commented that on this occasion they are focusing preparation on strengthening the pitchers’ arms due to the intensity they will experience in the upcoming championship.

«The analysis we did after the Elite League showed that the boys were somewhat exhausted from the large workload they had in the National Series, which took its toll on us, as the popular saying goes.»

Among the news of the new training week are the incorporation into the preselected group of catcher Andrys Pérez, who is still recovering from the injury he suffered at the Central American Games, pitcher Armando Dueñas, and infielder Yurisbel Gracial.

In the cases of Dueñas and Gracial, both are facing preparation with a view to upcoming international commitments, as the fast pitcher is in talks with the Xiamen Dolphins of the Chinese Professional League, while his teammate has an agreement to play in winter baseball.

With the pending task of carrying out work at the Victoria de Girón stadium as a result of fuel shortages, the preselection of the red and yellow nine is fine-tuning details ahead of the «play ball» expected for next October 4.