1 HR by J:Rod and a high strikeout rate pretty much confirm that his major league career is on the verge of going nowhere

Yeah. I've pretty much given up on J-Rod. He didn't make the Puerto Rican WBC Team. Even though he was the league's MVP this year, he still did not make the team. He did go to Puerto Rico this year to work on his strikeout totals. I think his power numbers suffered because he worked on his contact game. Another reason the Guardians should have gotten a right hand hitting outfielder this off season. Too bad. I really liked J-Rod.

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Caimanes de Barranquilla 2026 Serie De Las Roster

Pitchers –

Jean Herrera, Elkin Alcala, Ezequiel Zabaleta, Emerson Martínez, Yoryi Simarra, Luis Pérez, Henderson Álvarez, Anthony Vizcaya, Moisés Díaz, Emilker Guzman, Jhon Romero, José Salvador, Julio Vivas, Pedro García, Yapson Gómez

Infielders –

Carlos Arroyo, Kelvin Melean, Jaider Morelos, Leandro Emiliani, Dario Borrero, Kevin Maitan

[ Looks like Dayan Frias was not invited to participate in this Classic despite putting up some decent numbers.

G 27, GS 27, AB 105, R 22, H 30, 2B 2, 3B 3, HR 1, RBI 16, TB 41, AVG 286, SLG 390, OBP 409, OPS 799, BB 19, HBP 3, SO 17, GDP 0, SF 0, SH 0, SB 8, CS 2

Dayan Frias participated in one World Baseball Classic, competing for Team Colombia in the 2023 tournament.
During the 2023 WBC, he served as a shortstop and infielder for Colombia, appearing in games against Mexico, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. ]

Outfielders –

Andrés Angulo, Jesús Marriaga, Harold Ramírez, Derwin Pomare, Tito Polo

Catchers –

Carlos Martínez, Gabriel Lino

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Dayan Frias played for Colombia in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, primarily as their starting shortstop, appearing in 4 games. He recorded a .231 batting average 3-13 with 2 RBI, with his best performance being a 2-for-4 game against Great Britain. 

Dayan Frias with a bases loaded base hit

https://x.com/i/status/1635380447445405696

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2026 Caribbean Series: Charros de Jalisco Make It An All-Mexico Championship Game With 8-6 Win

Mexico Red joins Mexico Green in advancing to Caribbean Series final

Leif Skodnick

February 7, 2026

ZAPOPAN, Mexico – Five times wasn’t enough, so why not make it six?

In a battle of Caribbean baseball heavyweights, the Charros de Jalisco won a back-and-forth semifinal at the 2026 Caribbean Series Friday night 8-6 over Puerto Rico’s Cangrejeros de Santurce to earn a berth in the championship game at winter baseball’s biggest event for the second consecutive year.

With the win, the Charros and the Tomateros de Culiacan, who faced each other in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico championship series, will face off for the sixth time in less than three weeks, this time for the Caribbean Series title. Benji Gil’s Charros have won all five meetings between the two teams going into tomorrow night’s championship game, sweeping the LAMP title series and winning the round robin game 4-2 on Wednesday night.

The matchup between the Charros and Tomateros on Saturday night means that Mexico is guaranteed to win its first Caribbean Series since the Venados de Mazatlan took the crown at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2016.

“We haven’t won anything. Our goal is not to reach the final. Our goal is to win the championship. And if we play our baseball, it will be very clear who is the best team in the Caribbean. We have had that goal since last year,” Gil said in Spanish following the game. “It gives me an incredible peace of mind to have players with the talent they have and also with commitment and focus. So I’m very calm. For me, tomorrow is a normal game, right? We know what it means, but We know we are the best team in Mexico. We have shown it for a long time. Now we just need one more game.”

With the wind blowing out at Estadio Panamericano, both teams took advantage of the hitter-friendly environs, combining for 23 hits and four homers, trading punches back and forth through the first seven innings.

With two outs in the top of the first, Yohandy Morales hit Manny Banuelos’ 2-2 offering over the left field wall to give the Cangrejeros a 1-0 lead.

The Tomateros wasted no time, striking back in the bottom of the first. Leadoff man Connor Hollis lashed a hot grounder right at Cangrejeros third baseman Emmanuel Rivera, who attempted to Olé the ball and missed, and Hollis took two bases on the error. Mateo Gil drove Hollis in to tie the game with a two-out single up the middle.

“I think we’ve had so much success so far because everyone’s bought in. And we know that our team is very talented, and nobody tries to be a hero,” the younger Gil, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, said. “I just take pride when those guys are on base. I try to, I take a lot of pride and I think it’s my job to drive them in. And you know, today I was fortunate enough to be in that situation a couple of times.”

An inning later, with Leo Heras on first after drawing a walk, Hollis hit a fly ball to left field that carried over the outstretched glove of Cangrejeros left fielder Johneshwy Fargas and over the wall for a two-run homer that gave the Charros a 3-1 lead.

Gabriel Cancel’s solo homer in the top of the third, again to left field, got Santurce within a run.

In the third, Michael Wielansky reached on a single, his 11th hit of the series, and two batters later, Bligh Madris hit a long fly ball 410 feet down the right field line and over the berm behind the bleachers to make it 5-2 Charros.

A lead off single by Emmanuel Rivera and a one-out double from former Boston Red Sox Christian Vazquez gave the Cangrejeros runners at second and third with one out. A wild pitch by Banuelos to Johneshwy Fargas allowed Rivera to score, and then Fargas singled home Vazquez to make it 5-4. That ended Manny Banuelos’ night after 4 1/3 innings, having allowed four runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three.

“They went up, we tied them,” Charros manager Benji Gil said following the game. “And then we took the lead, they got closer, we opened the gap a little, then they took the lead again and then we came back. I think the game had everything.”

Consecutive one-out singles in the top of the fifth by Morales, Nelson Velazquez, and Isan Diaz got Morales home to tie the game at five apiece and advance Velazquez to third. A sac fly to left by Emmanuel Rivera scored Velazquez to make it 6-5 gave the Cangrejeros their first lead since the top of the first.

But the Charros weren’t done. Wielansky singled to lead off the home half of the seventh, and Willie Calhoun followed with a single to give the Charros runners at the corners. Mateo Gil made it three singles in a row and drove in Wielansky to tie the game at six apiece and chase righty reliever Derek West from the mound for lefty Gabriel Rodriguez to face left-handed power threat Bligh Madris. Rodriguez fanned Madris and Reynaldo Rodriguez, but threw a wild pitch that allowed Christopher Gastelum, pinch running for Calhoun, to advance to third, and Gil stole second base on strike three to Rodriguez.

Rodriguez got ahead of Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico regular season home run leader Leo Heras 0-2, but Heras worked the count to 2-2 before popping a single through the left side of the infield to score Gastelum and Gil for an 8-6 lead.

On came LAMP reliever of the year Matt Foster, who had allowed one hit and two walks in three innings over three appearances in the round robin to pitch the eighth for the Charros. He induced a fly out from Jack Lopez, then battled through an 11-pitch at-bat with Christian Vazquez that ended when the Santurce catcher hit a fly ball to the warning track in left field and Julian Ornelas made a leaping grab and collided with the wall, holding onto the ball and drawing a chant of “MVP!” from the crowd. Foster then fanned Johneshwy Fargas looking to end the eighth.

Trevor Clifton came on for the ninth for the Charros to face the top of the Cangrejeros order and retired them 1-2-3 to earn his second save of the series.

Tommorow, Benji Gil and his Charros will face a familiar rival in Lorenzo Bundy and the Tomateros. Bundy’s Diablos Rojos swept Gil and the Charros in the Serie del Rey, the championship series of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, the country’s summer league, in September, before Gil and the Charros returned the favor to Bundy with a sweep of the Tomateros in January.

Asked about his friendly rivalry with Bundy, Gil said, “He’s a good friend. He’s an accomplished manager.”

“The only thing is I got the better team. I got the better players. Maybe in the summer, maybe he has a better team. We have the best team. There ain’t no doubt about it. And there ain’t nothing anybody can do. If we play our baseball, there’s nothing that can be done. We will win tomorrow.”

NOTEBOOK – Charros third baseman Mateo Gil made three spectacular diving plays on hard hit ground balls, two of them consecutively against Ruben Castro and Gabriel Cancel at the top of the first, and another with one out in the bottom of the ninth, again nailing Cancel at first. … Saturday’s championship game will be televised live in the United States in English on MLB Network and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

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Mexico has won its tenth Caribbean Series title!

07/02/2026

Zapopan, Jalisco (CBPC Press).- A wild pitch by Guadalupe Chávez with the bases loaded gave the Charros de Jalisco a 12-11 victory over the Tomateros de Culiacán, and the team managed by Benjamín Gil lifted their first championship trophy in the history of the Caribbean Series at their home stadium, the Pan American Stadium in this city.

The game went into the tenth inning after the Tomateros staged a legendary comeback, negotiating a 10-10 tie after being down 9-1.






With the Ghost Runner Rule, Tomateros took the lead in the top of the tenth inning, but the Charros responded with two runs, scored by Julián Ornelas and Michael Wielansky, both resulting from wild pitches by pitcher Guadalupe Chávez.

As if it were an undecipherable enigma, the Charros —who had lost last year's final in Mexicali against the Dominican Republic— once again prevailed over the Tomateros, just as happened in the four games of the most recent final of the ARCO Mexican Pacific League and in their direct confrontation within this Caribbean Series, although this time their rival fell "with their boots on".






After starter Luis Miranda failed to complete the first five innings (4.0 IP, 4 ER), César Gómez earned the win, while Guadalupe Chávez took the loss. Bligh Madris homered for the Charros and Víctor Mendoza homered for the Tomateros.


For the Charros, Connor Hollis stood out, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs; Julián Ornelas went 3-for-4 with three RBIs; while Michael Wielansky and Mateo Gil each contributed two hits.
For the Tomateros, Allen Córdoba led the offense, going 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs; Víctor Mendoza and Estevan Florial also had two hits each.






It seemed the second inning would pass without major incident for the Charros' offense after Wilmer Ríos retired Bligh Madris and Reynaldo Rodríguez. However, he issued a walk to the eighth batter, Leo Heras, and from then on, things started to get complicated. Santiago Chávez singled, advancing Heras to third. Then, Connor Hollis drove in the first run with a single to center field. A throwing error by catcher Solís allowed the runners to advance, and after a walk to Julián Ornelas, Michael Wielansky lined a single to right field, driving in two runs and making the score 3-0.

An inning later, after the Tomateros scored a run in the top of the fourth, the Charros responded with a four-run rally against Odrisamer Despaigne and his reliever Miguel Vázquez, combining three walks and three singles, including a two-run single by Connor Hollis.
In that same inning, they added two more runs against Braulio Torres-Pérez, thanks to a home run by Bligh Madris—his third of the tournament—with Mateo Gil on base, making the score 9-1.






Lorenzo Bundy's team refused to give up and put together a six-run rally in the top of the fifth inning, prompting the removal of Luis Miranda and the punishment of relievers Miguel Aguilar and Jesús Cruz. In an inning that saw 12 batters and eight hits, including a double by Allen Córdoba, they closed the gap to 9-7.

In the seventh inning, Víctor Mendoza hit a home run off Gerardo Reyes to bring the Tomateros within one run. However, in the bottom of the inning, Sasagi Sánchez allowed the fourth hit of the game to Connor Hollis, who later scored on a double by Julián Ornelas, giving the Charros a two-run lead.






The drama reached its peak in the ninth inning. Facing Trevor Clifton, with one out, Yadir Drake was hit by a pitch, and immediately afterward, Víctor Mendoza hit his second home run of the game to tie the score at 10 runs, completing a historic comeback.






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BOX SCORE

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mexico-verd ... tor.lmp.mx

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FINAL OUT

https://twitter.com/i/status/2020375374719513031

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COMPLETE GAME HIGH LIGHTS - 2 HRS 45 MIN

https://youtu.be/0yoCkuw6yN4

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Colombia in World Baseball Classic

The Guardians are hoping to see countless prospects break out in 2026, with Frias being a perfect example of one who could.

Cade Cracas

Feb 3, 2026

The Cleveland Guardians are going to be represented by a good chunk of players on the 40-man roster and those in the farm system at the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

On Monday, Feb. 2, infielder prospect Daiyan Frias was informed that he was selected to play for Team Colombia in the WBC. The 23-year-old is coming off a 2025 campaign where he suited up for both the Double-A Akron Rubberducks and Triple-A Columbus Clippers, slashing .216/.318/.318 for an OPS of .636.

It wasn't an impressive season, but year after year Frias is showing growth in different areas.

Being able to play for his home country will be an excellent opportunity, as being able to participate in a high-level competition like the WBC gives him a chance to both play with and take on some of the world's best athletes. He was also recently given a non-roster invite to join the Guardians' spring training camp.

Over the past two seasons, Frias hasn't been listed as one of the Guardians' top 30 prospects, with 2026 expected to be a year where all eyes fall on him. He'll need to show this season that he's ready to either maintain pace in Triple-A or be given a major-league shot.

Frias' Time in Cleveland

It's been a rocky road for the native of Cartagena, Colombia, slashing .236/.342/.352 across six seasons of minor league ball. He's still young and unpolished, with some of his tendencies that cause issues at the plate able to be broken with time.

The front office obviously believes he has the strengths to someday be a fairly consistent contributor, or they wouldn't have kept him around this long.

The first time they saw the potential in Frias was way back in 2018, when the front office decided to offer him an $80,000 deal. Across his teen years, he spent time with Cleveland's fall-ball and rookie teams, while also getting reps in international play. He had his fair share of ups and downs, but back in 2019, he was electric for Cleveland. That season, at just 19 years old, he was remarkable at the plate, slashing .322/.420/.520 for an OPS of .940 across 42 games.

That set the stage for him to get his first real minor league look in 2022, suiting up for the Lynchburg Hillcats. He wasn't putting up numbers like the Guardians saw in rookie ball, but it wasn't bad.

However, his development began to slow, and while he was able to get on base in 2022, 2023, and 2024 very frequently, his hitting just couldn't get into a groove. He consistently posted a .300 on-base percentage, but his batting average remained under .260, dropping as low as .209 in 2024.

Back in 2024, he was aware of what he needed to fix. In an interview with MLB.com, he spoke to his hope for trying to cut down on swinging and missing.

“If you don’t see anything, then you can’t hit and nothing happens,” he said. “I try to find a pitch that I know I’m going to hit well and execute it …Trying to miss less is what I’m looking for at home plate.”

He played over 100 games in each season as well, so it wasn't a case of being injured or not getting chances; it was just a lack of production. His fielding has never been in question, putting up fielding percentages of 99.4% at first, 98.7% from second and 93.1% from third. It's just his play at the plate that remains rocky.

In foreign play, he's been much better, a testament that either comfort or the strength of competition is favoring him. The WBC will be a chance to see if Frias is better competing with players he's comfortable with, as the competition they'll face is very high.

Either way, the chance for Frias to step into a batters box at this big of a stage is important for his development, especially if Cleveland's front office has plans of keeping him around longer than 2026. He's young, impressionable and still able to be molded, it's just putting the right things around him to get the most out of his bat.

The first game for Colombia in the WBC will be on Friday, March 6, against Puerto Rico, with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m. EST. Frias will have a chance to represent his country on a national stage and prepare for the start of the 2026 regular season.

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Based on available highlights, Colombian infielder Dayán Frías (representing Vaqueros de Montería) executed a triple play during his time in Caribbean Series-related competition, which has been featured on social media platforms like Facebook, rather than a mainstream, high-definition YouTube video.

https://www.facebook.com/10004190108015 ... hi_IN&_rdr

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Dayan Frías makes Caribbean Series history

Date of entry

2023-02-09

Cleveland Guardians prospect Dayan Frías, from Colombia, made history by participating in the fourth triple play in the Latin American Baseball Classic, one of the most spectacular plays in baseball. The Vaqueros de Montería of Colombia delivered the fourth triple play in 65 editions of the tournament to the Leones de Caracas of Venezuela on Wednesday.




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World Baseball Classic: Team Colombia Roster News, Notes, and Analysis

After back-to-back disappointing tournaments in 2017 and 2023, can Colombia's numerous veterans help guide new faces to WBC glory?

By Tommy Pelle

February 19, 2026

Teams representing countries from around the world are preparing for what is expected to be the most popular World Baseball Classic in the event’s history.

The WBC, the first of two worldwide sporting events being hosted in the United States in 2026, gets underway on March 4. Teams representing five of the seven continents will compete to hoist the World Baseball Classic Championship Trophy.

2026 will mark Colombia’s third time in the competition after taking part in 2017 and 2023. However, in both of their appearances, the team failed to make it out of the group stage.

Colombia is in Group A this year, alongside Canada, Cuba, Panama and Puerto Rico. They will play their group stage games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

With professional players from several leagues and a mix of veterans and young talent, can the Colombians make some noise at this year’s WBC?

World Baseball Classic: Team Colombia Roster

Projected Starting 9

Catcher: #46 Elias Díaz

The 35-year-old former MLB All-Star is the most likely option behind the dish for Colombia. As a member of the 2023 team, Díaz has experience playing in the WBC. Across his 11-year career, the former Pirate, Rockie and Padre slashed .247/.300/.383 with 71 home runs and 326 RBIs.

In the 2023 tournament, Díaz hit .250 with a .625 OPS and recorded one RBI on a double against Mexico.

First Base: #7 Donovan Solano

The current MLB free agent is making a return to the Colombian team after playing in the 2017 WBC but not the 2023 tournament. The journeyman infielder spent most of the 2025 season in Seattle before being released on Sept. 1 and getting picked up by the Texas Rangers. The 38-year-old has 805 hits across 987 career games, along with 300 RBIs.

During the 2017 WBC, Solano hit .214 and recorded two RBIs.

Second Base: #8 Michael Arroyo

Arroyo is one of the more exciting names on the roster. The 21-year-old is making his WBC debut and was ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Seattle Mariners system by Just Baseball in 2025.

Arroyo is also a non-roster invitee to Mariners spring training. The infielder has slashed .275/.408/.462 across 351 games in the Mariners’ farm system.

Shortstop: #71 Dayan Frias

The 23-year-old is making his second WBC appearance after playing with the 2023 team. Frias is a part of the Guardians farm system and played 71 games in Triple-A last year. In 535 minor league games, the infielder has slashed .236/.342/.352 with 220 RBIs.

In the 2023 WBC, Frias hit .231 with a .462 OPS.

[ Checked a few weeks back and Frias wasn't even selected for Team Columbia much less start. He played very well two years ago at age 21. ]

Third Base: #29 Gio Urshela

The 2017 and 2023 WBC veteran just signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. The 34-year-old played 59 games with the Athletics in 2025. Urshela boasts a .270/.314/.407 slash line and 352 RBIs across 851 games.

Urshela has not found much success in the WBC. The righty has only recorded two hits across both tournaments, with both coming in 2017.

Outfield: #43 Harold Ramírez

The six-year MLB veteran is playing in his second WBC after participating in 2023. The former Marlin, Guardian, Ray and National did not play in the MLB in 2025. Over his career, the 31-year-old has slashed .285/.322/.406 with 517 hits in 536 games.

Ramírez only managed to hit .133 with a .321 OPS in the 2023 tournament.

Outfield: #12 Brayan Buelvas

2026 will be Buelvas’ first appearance in the WBC. The 23-year-old has been in the Athletics organization since 2018. Across 528 games in the minors, the outfielder is slashing .234/.318/.396 with 109 stolen bases.

Outfield: #16 Jesus Marriaga

Marriaga is making his second appearance in the WBC after debuting in the 2023 tournament. The 27-year-old was signed by the Diamondbacks in 2016, but released from Single-A in 2021.

Since being released, the righty has been playing independent baseball with the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the American Association as well as in the Colombian Winter League. For the past two seasons, Marriaga has played for the Caimanes de Barranquilla, whose general manager is the skipper for Colombia, Jose Mosquera.

Marriaga did not record a hit in the 2023 WBC.

DH: #38 Jorge Alfaro

The 2017 and 2023 WBC veteran is returning for his third tournament. The 32-year-old played 14 games with the Nationals in 2025 and is a non-roster invitee with the Royals this year. In 510 career MLB games, the former Padre has a .253/.301/.391 slash line with 46 home runs and 201 RBIs.

In the 2017 tournament, Alfaro hit .250 with an .808 OPS and a solo homer against the Dominican Republic. In 2023, the righty hit .267 with a .713 OPS.

Alfaro could split time with Diaz behind the plate. Whether he catches or not, his experience in the tournament and in MLB will get him in the lineup in some capacity.

Starters Relievers

#45 Austin Bergner #19 Adrian Almeida
#49 Julio Teheran #22 Reiver Sanmartin
#62 Jose Quintana #26 Elkin Alcala
#77 Luis Patiño #30 Yapson Gomez
#39 David Lorduy
#41 Danis Correa
#56 Tayron Guerrero
#61 Nabil Crismatt
#66 Guillo Zuñiga
#72 Pedro Garcia
#73 Jhon Romero
#92 Rio Gomez
#96 Emerson Martinez
Pitching Staff – Notable Names
#62 Jose Quintana

After participating in 2017 but not taking part in the 2023 tournament, the veteran southpaw is making his return to the WBC.

Quintana is entering his 15th year in MLB after recently signing with the Rockies on a one-year, $6 million deal. Across 2,101.1 careerinnings, the 37-year-old has 1,816 K’s and a 3.76 ERA.

The lefty’s lone start in the 2017 WBC came against the United States. In what was one of the best games of the whole tournament, Quintana pitched 5.2 innings with four strikeouts and only allowed one run. The U.S. went on to walk off in the 10th inning, sending the Americans to the quarterfinals and the Colombians packing.

#49 Julio Teheran

The 13-year veteran is participating in his third WBC after being part of the 2017 and 2023 Colombia teams.

In his MLB career, Teheran managed a 3.85 ERA and 1,260 strikeouts across 248 starts. However, the righty last pitched in MLB in 2024 for the Mets and was released from the Torros de Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League in July 2025.

Teheran’s only WBC appearance came in 2017 against Canada (he did not get to pitch in 2023). The veteran went five innings, giving up only one run in Colombia’s sole win of the tournament.

#77 Luis Patiño

Patiño is making his WBC debut in 2026. The former Padres prospect, who was dealt to the Rays for Blake Snell in 2020, last pitched in MLB in 2023 with the White Sox.

The 26-year-old has experience as both a starter and as a reliever. Across 45 appearances, 23 of which were starts, Patiño pitched 136.1 innings with 124 strikeouts.

#61 Nabil Crismatt

The 31-year-old made his MLB debut in 2020 with the Cardinals. The 2017 and 2023 WBC veteran has also pitched for the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers, and he signed a minor league contract with the Rangers during the offseason.

Crismatt has made two starts in the WBC, one each year. In 2017, the righty went three innings and gave up two runs against the Dominican Republic. His 2023 appearance was much stronger; he tossed four innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts against Mexico.

#45 Austin Bergner

The 2024 Double-A Eastern League Champion with the Erie SeaWolves is making his first WBC appearance in 2026.

The former UNC Tarheel was drafted by the Tigers in 2019. Across six years in the minors, Bergner has a 4.15 ERA across 490 innings, along with 546 strikeouts. The righty signed a minor league contract with the Rangers in the offseason and was assigned to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders.

#22 Reiver Sanmartin

The 29-year-old is making his second appearance in the WBC after participating in 2023. After making 62 appearances for the Reds over the past five years, he was claimed by the Giants off waivers during the offseason.

The lefty made two appearances in the 2023 WBC, totaling two innings pitched, one earned run and three strikeouts.

#56 Tayron Guerrero

Guerrero, standing at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, is making his second appearance in the WBC after last participating in 2017. He was signed as a teenager by the Padres in 2010, but he only made one appearance with the Friars in 2016.

The righty would go on to make 112 appearances with the Marlins between 2018 and 2019, with 111 strikeouts in 106 innings.

A 2026 non-roster invitee to Red Sox spring training, Guerrero made one appearance in the 2017 classic. Against the Dominican Republic, he recorded two strikeouts and gave up one hit in one inning of work.

Exhibition Schedule
Date Opponent Time
March 3 Pittsburgh Pirates 1:05 p.m. ET
March 4 Atlanta Braves 1:05 p.m. ET

Pool Schedule

Date Opponent Time and Broadcast
March 6 vs. Puerto Rico 6 p.m. ET, FS1/FOXD
March 7 @ Canada 11 a.m. ET, FS2/FOXD
March 8 @ Cuba 12 p.m. ET, FS2
March 9 @ Panama 12 p.m. ET, FS2

Knockout Schedule

Round Date Location Time and Broadcast
Quarterfinal March 13 or 14 Daikin Park, Houston TBA
Semifinal March 15 or 16 Daikin Park, Houston 8 p.m. ET, FS1/FOXD
Championship March 17 loanDepot park 8 p.m. ET, FOX/FOXD

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Cuba says 8 World Baseball Classic delegation members denied US visas

The Associated Press

February 26, 2026

Eight members of Cuba’s delegation were denied visas to the United States for the , the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) said Thursday.

Cuba is set to play against Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama and Canada in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during pool play of the WBC, which is scheduled from March 5-17.

Among the Cubans that were denied visas are FCBS president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo and general secretary Carlos del Pino Muñoz. Pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo was also denied.

A person with direct knowledge said all Cuban players and coaches except for Lazo received visas. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because no announcements have been made regarding player visas. The State Department declined to comment on the Cuban complaint citing visa privacy laws, but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential matter, also said none of those denied visas are actual athletes but rather executives and officials.

“The United States’ response, after more than a month since these requests were submitted, ignores the reasons on which they are based, the most basic principles of sport, and the commitments assumed by the host countries of such events” the Federation said in a statement.

The Cubans finished third at the previous WBC in 2023. The team has exhibition games scheduled next week against the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds in Arizona.

Cuba is among a list of seven countries with travel restrictions to the United States alongside Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

Last year, the Cacique Mara team, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was denied visas into the United States and missed the Senior Baseball World Series.

The Cuban Federation said that it “will analyze how to proceed, and will inform in due course.”

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Fans -- and opponents -- watch in awe as Shohei Ohtani takes pregame batting practice in Nagoya

February 27th, 2026

Michael Clair

MIYAZAKI, Japan -- When Shohei Ohtani is around, he is the main event. On Friday night in Nagoya, Samurai Japan -- Japan's national team -- had an exhibition game against NPB's Chunichi Dragons. This was before the start of the official World Baseball Classic camps, so Major League players weren't able to take part in the game.

That didn't matter to the packed house at the Vantelin Dome, though. That's because Ohtani came out for pregame BP. Once he stepped into the box, everyone -- and I mean everyone -- dropped what they were doing to watch. As Ohtani launched ball after ball over the outfield wall, his teammates stood and watched in awe. The fans lifted their cameras, and the Dragons players watched from their dugout, mouths agape in astonishment.

There's a reason for the excitement beyond Ohtani just being the most gifted player to ever take the field: In Los Angeles, the superstar rarely takes public BP. When he returns home to Japan, though, Ohtani usually greets his home country's fans with a spectacle.

Shohei Ohtani put on a show in Japan for fans and fellow players

https://twitter.com/i/status/2027410473792979267


MIYAZAKI, Japan -- When Shohei Ohtani is around, he is the main event. On Friday night in Nagoya, Samurai Japan -- Japan's national team -- had an exhibition game against NPB's Chunichi Dragons. This was before the start of the official World Baseball Classic camps, so Major League players weren't able to take part in the game.

That didn't matter to the packed house at the Vantelin Dome, though. That's because Ohtani came out for pregame BP. Once he stepped into the box, everyone -- and I mean everyone -- dropped what they were doing to watch. As Ohtani launched ball after ball over the outfield wall, his teammates stood and watched in awe. The fans lifted their cameras, and the Dragons players watched from their dugout, mouths agape in astonishment.

There's a reason for the excitement beyond Ohtani just being the most gifted player to ever take the field: In Los Angeles, the superstar rarely takes public BP. When he returns home to Japan, though, Ohtani usually greets his home country's fans with a spectacle.


Without Ohtani in the lineup, Japan defeated the Dragons, 5-3. Third baseman and reigning NPB Central League MVP Award winner Teruaki Sato hit a three-run home run, Hiroya Miyagi pitched three shutout innings, and flamethrowing right-hander Hiroto Takahashi -- who struck out Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt in the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game -- closed out the victory.

Ohtani and his fellow MLB players will join the lineup on March 2 when the Samurais take on the Orix Buffaloes for the first of two final tuneup games ahead of the tournament.

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GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER ON THE PLANET. SHOHEI IS JUST PLAIN AWESOME!

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Junior Caminero rubbed Guardians' mistake in their faces with unbelievable WBC debut

By Henry Palattella

9 hours ago

While the World Baseball Classic doesn’t officially start until tonight’s game between Australia and Chinese Taipei, we’ve been getting a steady drip of WBC action over the past week thanks to every team in the tournament scrimmaging against various pro teams as exhibition warm ups before the tournament.

But you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Dominican Republic’s scrimmage against the Tigers on Tuesday was Game 7 of the World Series given the raucous environment at Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium in Santo Domingo.

And part of the reason it was such a part in Santo Domingo was due to third baseman Junior Caminero, who went 4-for-4 in the middle of the DR’s lineup. And if that wasn’t enough, all of Caminero’s hits had an exit velocity of 107+ miles per hour.

And although Camerino’s strong showing came in an exhibition, it was another example of a crazy game from him that Guardians fans had to watch through their fingers.

Former Guardians’ prospect Junior Caminero is set for star turn at 2026 WBC

In 2021, the Guardians traded Caminero to the Tampa Bay Rays after the 2021 season in exchange for Tobias Myers. It’s one of the worst trades in modern baseball history.

Cleveland ended up cutting Myers less than eight months after making the deal, while Caminero grew to be baseball’s top prospect and has since evolved into one of the sport’s best sluggers.

His home run against the Tigers on Tuesday was the perfect example of just how good he can be.

Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium was already buzzing when he stepped to the plate in the fourth inning thanks to Juan Soto and Manny Machado’s home runs, and he sent the 13,186 fans in attendance into a frenzy with a 107.8 mph opposite field home run on one of the prettiest swings you’ll ever see.

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Caminero truly announced his presence last season with an All-Star campaign where he mashed 45 home runs (two of which came in one game against the Guardians) to go along with 110 RBI. While José Ramírez beat him out for the American League Silver Slugger, Caminero has become a bonafide star. At this point, the only reason he isn’t a true household name is because he plays in Tampa Bay.

Although there’s the obvious argument to be made about whether Caminero would be the same kind of player he is now had he stuck in Cleveland (and the obvious question about where he’d play thanks to Ramírez being entrenched at third), it doesn’t take away from the fact the Guardians got nothing for him.

Heck, even Myers put together a solid season with the Brewers after the Guardians cut him loose.

The Dominican Republic’s lineup looked unbeatable against Detroit on Tuesday, and Caminero was a big reason for that. Chances are this won’t be the last time he authors a signature moment while wearing his country’s jersey.

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Shohei Ohtani hits a grand slam at the World Baseball Classic after putting on a show in BP

The Associated Press

March 6, 2026

TOKYO (AP) — This is the Shohei Ohtani effect.

Lia Chan and her husband How and other family members flew in from Singapore — about a seven-hour flight to Tokyo — just to watch Ohtani play in the Classic

“And baseball is not even popular in Singapore,” said Lia, who was seated a few rows behind home plate. “We know about baseball, we watch it, but when Ohtani came along it’s just gone out of proportions.”

Lia, her husband and other Singaporeans in their group were among some 40,000 in the stadium oohing-and-aahing on Friday, and this was only for batting practice hours before the game.

Ohtani knows about drama.

He kept the crowd waiting for perhaps 30 minutes as other Japanese players practiced and hundreds of reporters with cameras, phones and tripods milled around in a penned-off area on the field.

Finally, Ohtani emerged from the dugout and waited his turn around the batting cage, hugged a few players, made small talk, and greeted some fans in an area for sponsors.

Fans in the stands stood to get a better look. But they were asked to sit down by attendants holding signs in Japan and English that read: “Please watch from your seats.”

Ohtani took about 25 swings, hit about 10 balls out of the park and another few against the outfield wall.

When batting practice ended, he jogged out to thank the batting practice pitcher, bowed slightly, and gathered a few loose balls and tossed them into the hopper. Then with a bat in each hand, he trotted off the field to prepare for the game against Taiwan.

“Who does things like that?” Lia said. “He’s in another league.”




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Ohtani has grand slam, 5 RBIs as Japan routs Taiwan 13-0 in its WBC opener


The Associated Press

March 6, 2026

Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the game, then hit a go-ahead grand slam and an RBI single in a 10-run second inning to lead defending champion Japan over Taiwan 13-0 Friday night in its opener.

A triple shy of a cycle at the Tokyo Dome, Ohtani was denied on a leaping catch by first baseman Nien-Ting Wu in the fourth.

The game was called after seven innings under a tournament mercy rule. Yu Chang had the only hit for Taiwan (0-2), a leadoff single in the sixth off Koki Kitayama.

With Japan the visiting team, Ohtani homered to right on a low, outside curveball from loser Hao-Chun Cheng, a 102.4 mph drive that traveled 368 feet. The half-inning lasted 28 minutes.

Kazuma Okamoto hit an RBI single in a three-run third off Tzu-Chen Sha.

Winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last season’s World Series MVP, walked three in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Shoma Fujihira relieved with the bases loaded and struck out An-Ko Lin.

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Australia beats Czech Republic 5-1 behind Curtis Mead’s 3-run homer

Australia (2-0) defeated the Czech Republic (0-2) in Tokyo behind a go-ahead, three-run, third-inning homer from Curtis Mead of the Chicago White Sox off loser Tomas Ondra to remain unbeaten in Pool C.

Australia, which lost to Cuba in a 2023 quarterfinal, took a 3-1 lead when Mead homered after the Czechs failed to convert a potential double play. Alex Hall added a solo homer off Ryan Johnson in a two-run ninth.

Vojtech Mensik hit a second-inning sacrifice fly for the Czechs.

Josh Hendrickson allowed one run and two hits over three innings.

Yoán Moncada homers to lead Cuba over Panama 3-0

Yoán Moncada and Yoelquis Guibert homered off Logan Allen at San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Cuba won its WBC opener for the first time since 2013.

Cuba, which lost the 2006 final to Japan and a 2023 semifinal to the U.S., is missing many top Cuban-born players, including Aroldis Chapman, Randy Arozarena and Luis Robert Jr.

Guibert went deep on a high 2-0 fastball in the second and Moncada one inning later pulled a 3-1 sweeper at the bottom of the strike zone for his first home run off a left-hander since Sept. 28, 2023, off Arizona’s Kyle Nelson.

Panama’s Johan Camargo had an RBI single in the seventh against Emmanuel Chapman and, with runners at the corners, Darien Núñez retired Christian Bethancourt on an inning-ending groundout.

Allen, a Florida native whose mother was born in Panama, allowed three runs and five hits in three innings, taking the loss. Winner Livan Moinelo gave up two hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Cuba did not have a baserunner after the fifth. Raidel Martinez got three straight outs for the save.

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Stuart Fairchild’s grand slam leads Taiwan over Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic


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By Michael Clair

2:44 AM EST

TOKYO – Tokyo Dome was packed and the noise was ear-splitting. The fans were cheering and stomping, with horns blaring and drums pounding. But this wasn’t Samurai Japan who was playing: This was the visiting Chinese Taipei, who defeated Czechia 14-0 in a seven-inning mercy rule victory on Saturday afternoon.

You could have forgiven the fans who flew in from Taiwan if they were subdued. The team had lost its first two World Baseball Classic games, failing to score a run in either contest. The game against Czechia – a roster consisting almost entirely of amateur players who have overcome expectations simply by being here – was essentially a relegation contest with the loser likely having to play in a Qualifier before the next tournament.

Instead, they responded as if Chinese Taipei was playing in the World Baseball Classic championship.

Chinese Taipei got started in the first inning scoring two runs with the ball barely leaving the ground. Two bunt singles – including one by Guardians Minor Leaguer Stuart Fairchild, a double steal with a throwing error, and an RBI single past the diving reach of shortstop Vojtech Menšík from former big leaguer Yu Chang put Chinese Taipei up 2-0 early.

It was all part of a plan to wake up the bats after two sluggish days at the plate.

“In the previous two games, our offense was kind of struggling,” manager Hao-Jiu Tseng said. “So before the game started, we thought we should go back to the fundamentals, and I asked all the players what the best approach to do was, and that's the result.”

“It’s not a bad feeling if the defending Premier12 world champion bunts with their No. 3 hitter, and want to score a run in the first inning because they’re afraid,” Chadim said with a laugh. “But only in the first inning.”

Worldwide home run king Sadaharu Oh congratulates Team Czechia
But Chinese Taipei wouldn’t need to use small ball for long. The next inning, Fairchild came up with the bases loaded. The night before, he had hit a long drive down the third-base line that was called foul, which the outfielder still believes was fair.

There was no doubt today.

“Honestly after yesterday when I thought I hit the homer, I was thinking about it a lot,” Fairchild said. “And today, I just tried to flush it and realize it's a new day. Not dwell on the past and show up today to help the team win. That was my priority. It was to not think about myself but rather the team and do what I can today to help the team win.”

There wasn’t much time to move on, though: Chinese Taipei was in the night game last night and first pitch was at 12 p.m. local time in Tokyo.

“I felt a little tired to be honest, quick turnaround from the late game yesterday to an early one today. But I got as much sleep as I could and drank a bunch of coffee, so we were ready to go,” Fairchild joked.

From there, Chinese Taipei put the game away. Chang had three hits and four RBIs, Chen-Wei Chen drove in three and A’s No. 27 prospect and starting pitcher Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang pitched 2 2/3 innings and struck out four to get the victory.

“We were 0-2 and the key for my role is to just win this game, and we did,” Zhuang said. “All of my teammates feel responsible and want to do everything they can do, and that's why my teammate sitting next to me hit a grand slam. I'm very thankful.”

The victory keeps Chinese Taipei’s hopes of advancing alive, though the chances are slim. It will need to beat Korea no matter what.

“Tomorrow's game is also an elimination game,” Tseng said. “We have to win to stay positive. So all of our roster is available.”

While the Czechs are all but relegated to a Qualifier – they have two days off before playing the defending champion Japan on Tuesday to finish the Tokyo pool – the team still has reason to be proud of their accomplishment. They recently won a bronze medal at the European Baseball Championship, the first medal in the country’s history.

“Because the WBC is worldwide, it has a lot wider reach, and this way, we can get more people to follow our team or notice Czech baseball and Czech players and that we have do have some talent on our team,” catcher Martin Červenka said before the game. “But talking about the European championship, it was a long-term goal of Czech baseball. We have been trying to get a medal for over 20 years and we were finally able to get one.

"It was very special to us. Within the European level and within the Czech Baseball Association, it was really important for us to see that even in Europe, we are doing the right things. We can keep going in this direction to try to get the ultimate goal, which is European gold.”

Michael Clair writes for MLB.com

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In Miami, the opening game of the World Baseball Classic was a celebration for Venezuelan fans


The Associated Press

March 6, 2026

MIAMI (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. scored easily from third base for Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic, and about a half-dozen of his teammates hopped over the dugout railing to start a celebration.

It was a 1-0 game. In the first inning. Didn’t matter.

“For our people, baseball is joy,” Jessalyn Suarez, an office manager from Miami, said as she walked into the ballpark about an hour earlier. “Today is joy. Today is not about anything else.”

She was like many other Venezuelan fans Friday — wearing her team’s jersey, her country’s flag knotted loosely around her neck, the country’s yellow-blue-red color scheme painted on her face and the faces of some of her friends.

Unusual political times didn’t seem to matter. Thousands of Venezuelans — the stadium was maybe one-third filled for Venezuela vs. Netherlands on Friday, with the overwhelming majority of fans cheering for “La Vinotinto” — showed up to watch their national team play on U.S. soil, two months after American forces in Venezuela to capture and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

“Nobody is thinking about him today,” Jesus Otero, a retired heavy machine operator from nearby Hialeah, said as he watched batting practice. “He’s not here.”

There were a few Netherlands caps and shirts in the crowd — but for the most part, the party was very Latin.

At 10:30 a.m. outside the ballpark, more than 90 minutes before first pitch, fans arrived as music from Elsen Pro, Bacilos and Carlos Vives blared over giant speakers. At a gas station across the street from one of the parking garages, someone was selling Venezuela jerseys, caps and flags, all packed up into a couple of duffle bags that were serving as display cases.

Inside, fans cheered from the very first pitch. Many had their phones out to grab video of the team being announcing, taping what was being shown on the huge screen in center field. The upper deck was almost entirely empty, but the lower deck — especially on the third-base side, the one where Venezuela’s dugout was — was bustling.

“Venezuelan baseball fans are very motivated and involved with everything that happens with the team,” said Nelson Zurita, a Venezuelan who calls Chile home but flew to Miami for the tournament. “They are aware of every transaction in the anticipation to the Classic. The country will always be focused on sports but especially baseball. … The players do not want to mix politics with baseball, but the country is completely behind them.”

There were no signs of protests outside the ballpark Friday afternoon; there was a presence of police officers and sheriff’s deputies, but that seemed largely for standard security and traffic-control reasons. Fans were going through the usual sorts of ticket-checks and bag searches that are in place for Miami Marlins games and other events at the ballpark.

WBC officials said the night game Friday — Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic — was trending toward becoming sold-out.

“The presence of this team provides some relief from the everyday political stress,” Zurita said. “The emphasis instead is on the Classic. Baseball breathes new life.”

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Lucas being Lucas? Manny's son crushes 2 HRs for Brazil

March 6th, 2026

LUCAS RAMIREZ 2 HOMER GAME VS TEAM USA

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LUCAS RAMIREZ SHOWS OFF HIS ARM

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There’s another outfielder named Ramirez wearing No. 24 and crushing huge home runs, and he has arrived on baseball’s biggest stage.

Enter Angels prospect Lucas Ramirez, the son of 12-time All-Star outfielder Manny Ramirez, who made his mark from the start of Team Brazil’s World Baseball Classic opener against Team USA on Friday night at Daikin Park in Houston. Showing flashes of his father’s electric power -- which included a 2004 All-Star Game dinger off Roger Clemens at the very same venue -- Ramirez slugged TWO solo home runs against the U.S. to become the youngest player with a multihomer game in the WBC.

"This is the best day ever of my life, to be honest," Ramirez said.

Leading off for Brazil in the bottom of the first inning, Ramirez crushed the second pitch thrown by U.S. starter Logan Webb over the wall in right-center field: a 104.1 mph, 392-foot blast off a sinkerballing pitcher often hard to square up. It was the 10th leadoff home run in WBC history and the first of the 2026 event.

"Ever since the qualifiers, I've been envisioning a first-at-bat bomb," Ramirez said. "It is crazy it actually happened. For five months, every time before I go to bed, after I pray, you know, I visualize it. And it happened."

In the bottom of the eighth, the left-handed slugger delivered an impressive swing against tough lefty reliever Gabe Speier. Ramirez connected with a 93.9 mph fastball for a 106.3 mph solo homer hit at an eye-popping 50-degree launch angle -- tied for the highest launch angle on an over-the-fence home run under Statcast tracking (since 2015).

Not bad for a 20-year-old.

That’s right: Ramirez is only 20 years, 49 days old, making him the second-youngest player to hit his first World Baseball Classic homer. Nationals catcher Harry Ford holds the record at 20 years, 19 days old, after a homer for Team Great Britain in the 2023 WBC. (Ford homered the next day, too.) Before Ramirez’s big night, the youngest player to hit multiple homers in a WBC game was Francisco Lindor at 23 years, 117 days old in 2017.

Ramirez also homered off another MLB star this week, taking Rangers ace Jacob deGrom deep in his first at-bat in Wednesday's exhibition game in Surprise, Ariz.

The younger Ramirez -- who bats lefty, unlike his father, by design -- was selected by the Angels in the 17th round of the 2024 Draft. If he does make it to the Major Leagues, the talented outfielder has lofty expectations to meet: Manny won nine Silver Slugger Awards, earned 2004 World Series MVP honors and hit 555 career homers with a .996 OPS.

The same could be said for several of Ramirez’s Brazil teammates whose fathers were MLB stars. Dante Bichette Jr. served as Team Brazil’s starting designated hitter on Friday, while 17-year-old pitcher Joseph Contreras -- the son of 11-year veteran José Contreras -- induced a ground-ball double play off the bat of Aaron Judge during his relief outing.

The most impressive of the bunch, though, was Ramirez, whose power surge in his WBC debut will be remembered for a while.

"I say you go out there with confidence, you can do anything," Ramirez said. "If you say it out loud, it will happen. I am telling you. It will happen."

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He's just 17 years old, but he got Aaron Judge out with the bases loaded

Alyson Footer

HOUSTON -- A quick glance at Team Brazil’s roster provides pretty standard information about the players -- bats/throws, height/weight, date of birth, hometown and school attended, where applicable.

With no disrespect to Joseph Contreras, his line reads a little bit like … a misprint.

Because it’s hard to believe that someone who is in uniform and throwing pitches for any team in the World Baseball Classic was born in 2008. And it’s even harder to imagine that someone born that recently could get one of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars to ground into a double play in front of more than 30,000 fans, and countless more watching on TV.

Meet Joseph Contreras, born May 6, 2008, and the youngest player on any WBC roster. He introduced himself to a packed house at Daikin Park in Houston on Friday night with the poise of someone twice his age.

Facing Aaron Judge with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning of Brazil’s 15-5 loss to Team USA, Contreras -- the son of former Major League pitcher José Contreras -- threw a 94.4 mph fastball, and Judge rolled over it, grounding into a 5-4-3 double play.

Inning over.

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“Impressive,” Judge said following the game. “I know I wasn't doing that at that age. Just great stuff. I know he had some poise on the mound. He's throwing up to 100 miles an hour. He's facing Team USA, a lot of guys he has seen on TV.

“It was just impressive, impressive just seeing him control himself out there and get out of a big jam. And he had some good stuff.”

The moment sunk in a little more for Contreras later, when he had some time to think about it.

"Now that I look back I'm like, OK, now I can see the magnitude of bases-loaded, one out," he said. "In the moment I was just, I just have to execute my pitches and just hopefully just get him out somehow, fly ball, maybe ground ball, just force him weak contact."

In an interview on FOX during the game, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa lauded Contreras’ array of pitches, adding, “He’s got his dad’s split, obviously, as well.”

“What a position for him to be in right there -- bases loaded, Aaron Judge, and he's able to get out of it,” DeRosa said.

Contreras is finishing up high school at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Ga., and has committed to play Division I baseball at Vanderbilt University. He’s also ranked No. 47 on the 2026 Draft prospects list, in case he decides to forego Vanderbilt and pursue a professional career.

His final line on Friday: 1 1/3 innings, two hits, one run, three walks -- and one very big GIDP.

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