Havana, April 20 (RHC) – The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation announced today that “because of what baseball represents in the Cuban popular imagination,” the IV Elite League will begin on May 2nd in stadiums of six qualified teams.
The governing body emphasized that the decision stems from baseball’s deep roots in Cuban culture and national identity, and also reflects “a demand of the people”—ideas that set the tone for a call to reconnect with the fans.
According to official information, the tournament will take place “amid the current situation in the country,” marked by “the intensification of the U.S. government’s economic, commercial, and financial blockade” and an “energy embargo” that attempts to “strangle an entire nation.”
In this context, it stresses, “baseball returns to the stadiums, to homes, and to the hearts of every Cuban.”
The IV Elite League, the result of “a colossal effort,” will be played in the ballparks of the six teams that finished highest in the 64th National Series.
The qualifying stage will run from May 2 to June 19, with 40 games per team organized into four-game series.
The semifinals, scheduled for June 21-30, will be played in a best-of-seven format—requiring four wins—and will include travel days after the second and fifth games. The final will maintain the same competitive format and is scheduled for July 2-10.
As in previous editions, the Federation confirmed the “reinforcement draft,” set for tomorrow, Tuesday, at 10:00 a.m. local time, when each team can complete its roster with seven additional players from a pool created by the Federation itself.
The first four rounds will be limited to this selection, while the remaining three will be open to all eligible players.
The regulations specify that each team will start with a base of 20 players from its original roster, and managers will not be allowed to add any other players from their National Series teams beyond that initial limit.
The games will begin at 2:00 PM local time, and in case of interruptions, the challenges “will be resolved within the context of the ongoing series,” with no rescheduling after the end of the regular season. The four teams with the best win-loss records will secure a spot in the postseason.
Tomorrow’s schedule will also include a technical meeting before the reinforcement process, as part of the tournament’s organization.
