Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) superstar and WBSC Premier12 alum Livan Moinelo visited his Cuban fellow Nationals before the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS game between Cuba and Australia at Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha on Thursday.
“You don’t get the chance to see young Cuban players competing in Japan very often,” Moinelo commented. “So I simply wanted to come and support them from the heart.”
Moinelo, who has represented Cuba at the inaugural WBSC Premier12, the 2015 Pan American Games, and the 2017 World Baseball Classic, donated equipment and gear to the U-18 Cuban National Team.
“The situation in Cuba is difficult and it’s not just baseball equipment,” he said. “Many things are lacking. I wanted to help in any way I could.
“I asked my [Fukuoka Softbank Hawks] teammates for their cooperation, gathered equipment, and sent it over,” he added. “I’m also grateful to my teammates who donated the gear.”
Born in 1995, Moinelo is in his ninth season with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. He has helped them to four consecutive Japan Series titles (2017-2020). Has earned one Pacific League Best Relief Pitcher Award, one Gold Glove and made the trip to the 2022 All-Star Game.
The left-hander has pitched out of the bullpen from 2017 to 2023, collecting 135 holds and 40 saves in 306 games. He has developed into the starter in 2024, posting an 11-5 record and allowing a 1.88 earned run average, the best in the Pacific League.
He has pitched in 22 games during the 2025 season, posting a 10-3 record with three complete games. He has allowed 106 hits and 40 walks over 155 innings, while striking out 162.
AloJapan.com