The World Baseball Classic is just around the corner, and the Dominican Republic will be fielding a very good team. The big event starts of 5 March and will finish on 17 March 2026. Games will be played in Tokyo, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Miami, Florida, and Houston, Texas.
The Dominican team, assembled from both major and minor league players by general manager Nelson Cruz, will include starting pitchers Bryan Bello, Luis Severino, Sandy Alcantara, and Christopher Sanchez. Relief pitchers include Abner Uribe, Dennis Santana, Huascar Brazoban, Wandy Peralta, Edwin Uceta, and Carlos Estevez.
Outfielders such as Fernando Tatis Jr, Juan Soto (the $750 million player of the NY Mets), Julio Rodriguez, and Oneil Cruz will don the Dominicana uniform.
Of course, in the infield that will be Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Junior Caminero, Manny Machado, Ketel Marte, Jeremy Peña, Geraldo Perdomo, Amed Rosario, and Carlos Santana.
Behind the plate will be one other than the catcher for the New York Yankees, Austin Wells, whose mother is Dominican, and he will be backed-up by Agustin Ramirez, who had a breakout year with the Miami Marlins.
With such a lineup, several commentators are proposing the Dominican team as the favorite, However, the team from Japan, led by Major League MVP, Shohei Ohtani will be looking to repeat their championship in the last Classic. And the team from the United States are certainly going to provide great competition.
There is a saying in baseball: “The ball is round and comes in a square box.” Meaning that anything can happen once the teas are on the field.
Local fans will get a glimpse of the Dominican team in Santo Domingo on 3-4 March, when they play the Detroit Tigers in a spring training game at the Estadio Quisqueya.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
9 February 2026