Puerto Rico aims for first-ever U-12 World Cup baseball qualification

Eighteen baseball players will represent Puerto Rico at the U-12 Pan American Championship in late November in the Dominican Republic, where they will seek the island’s first-ever berth in a U-12 World Cup.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Baseball Federation has announced the 18 players who will represent the island at the U-12 Pan American Championship.

The tournament will take place Nov. 20-27 in the Dominican Republic and will award four berths for the 2027 World Cup.

“It wasn’t easy for our staff to make this selection,” national team manager Joey Solá said Wednesday in a written statement. “It involved many hours of evaluation, analysis, and difficult decisions. Every child demonstrated talent, commitment, and a desire to represent Puerto Rico.”

The selection of the 18 players concludes an evaluation process that began in April, involving more than 450 young players through tryouts held across various regions of Puerto Rico and in Florida.

Puerto Rico will compete in Group C alongside Mexico, Panama and Peru. Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua and the United States will make up Group A, while Argentina, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela will play in Group B.

“We are heading into this challenge with the mission of making history and qualifying for a U-12 World Cup for the first time,” Solá stated.

The coaching staff will also include Edville Feliberty, Héctor Irizarry and Richard Burgos.

The selected players are Sebastián Morales, Ramón Cruz, Ediel Díaz, Diego Camacho, Xander Feliciano, Adrián López, Ayden Feliciano, Noah Genao, Adrián Cartagena, Santana Alvarado, Jordiel Rivera, Luca Díaz, Luis Rivera, Gerardo Rivera, Amberto Mercado, Onix Rivera, Jayden Berríos and Caleb Rivera.