Cuban baseball team manager Germán Mesa stated today that the national selection has begun a decisive stage of its preparation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with international matches and a program of technical and tactical adjustments.

"We are starting part of the team's preparation for the Classic, where we begin the stage with an international tournament in Venezuela, at the Series of the Americas, where I would say we started the first part of preparation," the strategist explained in statements to Prensa Latina.

Mesa specified that tomorrow the second preparatory phase will begin as such with friendly matches against the Nicaraguan selection, this time with the majority of players who will make up the roster for the world tournament.

Several of them were not in the first stage due to participating in the National Baseball Series or fulfilling commitments in leagues and selections abroad.

Referring to the specific objectives outlined in forming the roster and in tactical order, the technical director assured that the team already has its defined lineup and is working with emphasis on key areas.

"We already have the team roster. We are working hard on the pitching area, a very important area of the game, and in that direction we are advancing," he stressed.

Likewise, he highlighted the technical and psychological aspects they seek to consolidate during the preparation games on Nicaraguan soil.

According to his explanation, the collective prioritizes technical play and the clear definition of roles within the team.

"The aspects we are looking for are technical play, role play, that each person knows their function within the team; this is part of a modeling for the Classic, and based on that we will remain focused so that each person knows what they are supposed to do at a given moment in the game," he pointed out.

Mesa characterized the friendly matches scheduled in this Central American nation as important as part of the competitive process, considering the growth experienced by Nicaraguan baseball in recent years.

"We are going to be playing against a team with a higher level because Nicaragua is also preparing for the Classic, and that can be fruitful for the forecast we are seeking," he noted.

Regarding field conditions, he added that knowing the venue is favorable, although he stressed that the essential lies in the team's performance.

"The field counts and if you know it, much better, but the most important thing is the personnel with whom you are going to participate in the game. Nicaragua has risen a lot, has taken an incredible leap," he concluded.

The four-game friendly series between Cuba and Nicaragua is scheduled from February 19 to 27 at the Roberto Clemente Stadium (Masaya); Rigoberto López Pérez Stadium (León); Yamil Ríos Ugarte Stadium (Rivas); and the Soberanía Stadium (Managua).

Each of the encounters is shaping up to be a true sports festival, in which fans will be able to appreciate the main figures of Nicaraguan and Cuban baseball in an atmosphere of preparation and high competitiveness.