Henry Urrutia is excited to face his native Cuba in the Caribbean Series

SANTO DOMINGO – First baseman and designated hitter Henry Urrutia, who will power up the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series, will have the opportunity to play against the Agriculteurs, his native Cuba, an encounter that fills him with emotion over the relationship they join the team.

“I am very happy, the team that won there, Agricultures, was formed between two provinces and one of the provinces where I played, Las Tunas, and part of that team are players that I have played with since I was 18 years old,” Urrutia told EFE at the Quisqueya Juan stadium. Marichal in Santo Domingo.

Among the players who participated in Urrutia’s Cuban National Championship and who will attend the event, which will be held in Caracas, Venezuela, are Carlos Vieira, Rafael Ramon Viñales, and brothers Yousefani and Yordanis Alarcón.

“We’ve played together practically in the five years I’ve played in the National Series, which means I know many of these players and I’m excited to be on the field and to see them,” said Urrutia, who will promote Tigres del Lice, of the Dominican Republic, in the competition from 2 to 10 February.

Urrutia’s relationship with Agriculturas becomes stronger with the presence of manager Carlos Marti, because as he explained to EFE, he has a close relationship with his family, since he and his father, Ermidelio Urrutia, who was the 1992 Barcelona Olympic champion played matches with the Cuban national team.

“He was very patient with me when I was little and he was there with me for the Cuban youth team, and he helped me a lot. He was also my dad’s manager for a while. We’re talking about a guy who knows me and my family,” Urrutia explained.

Marti has a history of success in Cuban baseball, going undefeated in the four National Series Finals he played with Granma and in this first Elite League Final, with Agricultcores,

For Urrutia, the key to Martí’s success is due to the relationship he has been able to develop with the players, becoming more than a leader, a friend and even a father, if necessary.

“He has been very successful, because apart from the qualities he has as a coach, he is like a father to most players, he is a man who is more than a manager but a friend and he has managed to create that balance between being your manager and being your father. Yes, it can be,” Urrutia said.

The 35-year-old veteran batsman said that despite this relationship that makes them brothers and comrades in Cuba, the team that does the best work on the field will win, highlighting his commitment to winning with the Tigers.

said Urrutia, who said he was willing to play catcher if the team needed her.

“What matters to me is being able to support the team in whatever role they give me,” said Urrutia.

He refused to go to the classic world with Cuba

The Confederation of Cuban Baseball (FCB) on Tuesday announced a 30-player roster that will represent the island in the World Baseball Classic to be held in March this year, a roster Urrutia refused to be part of.

“I said I didn’t want to be on this team. Two people spoke to me off the record and told me they would call me if I was willing and I said no,” the powerful left-handed hitter revealed to EFE.

In the Caracas 2023 Caribbean Series, which will be held at La Rinconada Stadium in Caracas and Forum Stadium in La Guaira, the teams of the leagues of Venezuela (the host country), Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, Colombia and the Republic of the Republic. Dominican Republic, as well as Curaçao and Cuba, as guests.