Livan Moinelo, a standout pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and a WBSC Premier12 alum, recently visited the Cuban U-18 National Team ahead of their WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 game against Australia at Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha, Japan.
The 29-year-old left-hander (pictured above with Abeicy Pantoja, manager of the Cuban U-18 National Team) has played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks since 2017 and is one of the league’s top performers. He led the Pacific League in ERA in 2024 and has continued his dominance in 2025.
“You don’t get the chance to see young Cuban players competing in Japan very often,” said Moinelo. “So I wanted to come and support them from the heart.”
As part of his visit, Moinelo donated baseball equipment and gear to the Cuban U-18 team.
Related News
“The situation in Cuba is difficult—not just in terms of baseball, but across many aspects of life,” he explained. “I wanted to help however I could. I asked my teammates with the SoftBank Hawks for their support, and we collected and sent over the gear. I’m truly grateful to them for their generosity.”
Born in 1995, Moinelo is now in his ninth season with the Hawks. Over the course of his career, he has helped lead the team to four consecutive Japan Series titles (2017–2020). His accolades include a Pacific League Best Relief Pitcher Award, a Gold Glove, and a selection to the 2022 All-Star Game.
Originally a bullpen mainstay, Moinelo made the transition to a starting role in 2024, finishing the season with an 11–5 record and a league-best 1.88 ERA. So far in 2025, he has continued to impress, posting a 10–3 record over 22 games, including three complete games. He has allowed 106 hits and 40 walks over 155 innings, striking out 162 batters.
Internationally, Moinelo has long represented Cuba, appearing in major tournaments such as the inaugural WBSC Premier12, the 2015 Pan American Games, and the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
