HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 22: Members of the Cuban national baseball team stand in the dugout before the start of an exhibition game against the Major League Baseball team Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Estado Latinoamericano March 22, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama attended the game, the first time a sittng president has visited Cuba in 88 years. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Cuba may have finally reopened its borders to the United States, but the country is not yet ready to forgive those who previously left for greener pastures in MLB. Cuba will not allow any defectors to play for the national team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to the website Marinoticias.com.

This ruling applies to all players who have defected, not just those to end up in the U.S. There was an all-time high in player defections in 2015 — 150 in total.

This decision means many of the world’s best players will be left off of Cuba’s team. Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, Aroldis Chapman, and Jose Fernandez are just a few of baseball’s biggest stars to defect from the island nation in recent years. Had Cuba allowed these players to represent their home country, few countries would stand a chance at besting them.

Antonio Becali, the Cuban government’s top sports official, said his country will continue to work with MLB to hammer out an agreement that allows players to play in the league without defecting. However, the country will only be using those players who have remained in their native land.

“Our athletes that are within the Cuban sporting system and our national series are those that will continue to represent us at international events,” he said on the sidelines of a news conference about Cuba’s teams for the Olympics.

“Our principles are the principles of the revolution,” said Becali.

Qualifying rounds for the next World Baseball Classic are already underway, and barring any labor disputes, the international tournament is scheduled to resume in March 2017. The tournament has been held three times in total. It started in 2006 and was held in 2009 as well as 2013.

Cuba has typically had a strong showing in the event. The team’s highest finish was a loss to Japan in the championship round in 2006, and the nation has compiled a record of 13-7 in the tournament.

[Marti Noticias]

About Ben Sieck

Ben is a recent graduate of Butler University where he served as Managing Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Butler Collegian. He currently resides in Indianapolis.