Earlier in the week, we looked at some of the Diamondbacks players who could end up appearing in the World Baseball Classic come March. Now, let’s review the rest of the rosters.
Venezuela: Yilber Diaz, Gabriel Moreno, Eduardo Rodriguez, (Eugenio Suarez)
The situation in Venezuela has left things very much in a state of flux. At one point earlier this month, their very participation seemed in doubt. It now seems likely they will take part, but specifically who is uncertain – Jose Altuve recently pulled out of consideration. Late last season, Moreno expressed interest in playing,
saying “It would be a dream come true to represent my country. I’ve already had conversations with management.” But there has been no word on that since. Eduardo Rodriguez is confirmed on the roster, and Diaz had an excellent campaign in the winter league, with a 1.08 ERA over 16.2 innings for the Caribes de Anzoategui.
Mexico: Alek Thomas, (Taijuan Walker)
Thomas is another who switched national eligibility. He was a member of the American team which went 9-0 on their way to winning the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2017. Thomas played alongside fellow major leaguers Brice Turang and Kumar Rocker, and was named to the All-Tournament team. But in 2022, Mexico GM Rodrigo Lopez (a former D-back pitcher and current broadcaster) invited Thomas to play – his mother is from Sonora. Alek agreed: “I think I’d rather play for Mexico and represent this part of my culture” He played in all six games, and went 4-for-20. There’s been no official word yet, but I don’t know of any better bets to play CF for them this time.
Taiwan: Yu-min Lin, Chung-hsiang Huang
Lin has appeared for Taiwan before, playing for them at the end of the 2024 season, in the WBSC Premier12 Tournament. He started the championship game against Japan and tossed four scoreless innings of one-hit ball in a 4-0 win, as Taiwan took their first title. So I’d certainly not be surprised if he makes their roster here. Huang is a lesser-known Taiwanese prospect, signed by Arizona for $500,000 in December 2024, but had success in A-ball this season. Over seven starts he had a 2.78 ERA, and a very solid K:BB of 38:5 across 35.2 innings. He only turned twenty in October, so there’s work ahead. Jack, I hope, might be able to shed some more light here!
Netherlands: Druw Jones, (Didi Gregorius)
The Dutch made the final four in both 2013 and 2017, but heartbreakingly missed out on progressing from pool play in 2023, part of a group where all five teams finished with a 2-2 record. As ever, the Netherlands will benefit from the players in Curacao and its other territories. Through his (now Hall of Fame member) father, that’s how Druw could be eligible – however, he played for America at the U-18 level. A shout-out to Didi, who has been appearing for the Netherlands since the 2009 Baseball World Cup – a victory which got him knighted! Though he was last seen in MLB in 2022, he’s still playing, most recently for the Curaçao Suns.
Cuba: Jean Walters, (Yoan Lopez)
Why I do I suspect that somehow, somewhere, Yasmany Tomas is proclaiming himself to be in the best shape of his life, and campaigning to be on the Cuban roster? Or maybe Yasiel Puig can get out on day release? There are rumblings that the Cuban roster might exclude any MLB players, which would obviously kneecap the team. Whether or not that proves to be the case, Walters probably won’t make the roster. But a) he’s from the same town as Mrs. SnakePit’s family, and b) while he’s an infielder, he has also made 13 appearances as a relief pitcher, with a 2.19 ERA. He even notched a save in 2024 for High-A Hillsboro. That’s pretty cool.
Panama: Pedro Catuy, (Humberto Mejía, Enrique Burgos)
Again, Catuy feels more like a courtesy mention, considering he is still only nineteen years old, and yet to play above the Arizona Complex League. Panama may be small (at 4.6 million people, ahead only of Puerto Rico among participants), but they shouldn’t need to dip down that far to find players, as the other two names suggest. I remember when Burgos came up as a rookie in 2015, promptly fanned 39 batters in 27 innings, and seemed to be on track to be the Arizona closer of the future. Never quite worked out, though he still sits top 10 in franchise strikeout rate (min 50 IP).
Israel: Jacob Steinmetz
There’s probably no team better at hunting down eligible players than Team Israel. Technically, and probably unsurprisingly, Paul Goldschmidt could play for them, though he appeared for the USA in both the 2017 and 2023 WBCs. His father is Jewish and his mother is Catholic, his great grandparents just squeaking out of Germany in 1938. Steinmetz, however, is the first Orthodox Jew to be drafted, in the 3rd round of the 2021 draft. He became the youngest player to start a WBC game in 2023, facing the DR and striking out Manny Machado. But he missed all of 2025 through an oblique injury and, while slated to play in the AFL, never appeared. Status: uncertain.
Great Britain: Kristian Robinson, (Jazz Chisholm)
Last, but not least: well, hopefully not least. That win over Colombia allowed Team GB to bypass qualifying this time, and for 2026, they could have… Aroldis Chapman? Obviously, former D-backs prospect Chisholm will be the star of the roster, and has reportedly committed to the team. Catcher Harry Ford is another known name, but for Arizona it’s Robinson who will be the focus, qualifying through his Bahamanian upbringing. He’s not the only GB-eligible man in the farm system now, after Arizona drafted Wallace Clark, a London-born infielder in June. He played eight games for Visalia, with a remarkable K:BB ratio of 4:10. Yes: that way round.
