Major League Baseball Spring Training clubhouses in Florida and Arizona have thinned out this week, as the 2026 World Baseball Classic has officially begun. Tournament games will take place across the United States, Japan and Puerto Rico.
Team USA and defending champion Japan are the prohibitive favorites. However, do not count out the Dominican Republic spoiling their party.
The Dominican Republic has a loaded roster
Do not forget the D.R. went undefeated (8-0) to win the 2013 WBC at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Much like their rivals, the Dominican
Republic has a loaded roster that features San Diego Padres Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. The lineup is filled with star power, headlined by MVP-caliber players like Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Julio Rodriguez.
Pujols has “unfinished business”
After a disappointing early exit in the 2023 WBC, D.R. named Albert Pujols as team manager. Widely regarded as one of baseball’s premier leaders, Pujols has assembled the deepest roster in this year’s tournament, but it will not matter unless he can lead them to victory.
His message to the team is simple: they have unfinished business. Pujols expects to out-slug their opponents in pool and knockout round play.
The players are eager to showcase their skills on a global stage and prove that the world’s best baseball is played in the Dominican Republic.
Pitching is key to capturing the WBC title
Unlike past tournaments, the D.R. has two quality starting pitchers, who are in the prime of their careers. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara and last season’s National League Cy Young runner-up Cristopher Sanchez must combine to deliver quality starts in the pool and knockout rounds. It will be their job to hand the ball over to the bullpen.
Remember, the WBC imposes strict pitch count limits — 65 in the first round, 80 in the quarterfinals, and 95 in the championship — so Pujols will have to monitor his pitching staff’s usage. It could limit him to playing match-up baseball late in games.
He has constructed a deep, dominant pen, as it holds three high-velocity arms in Abner Uribe, Camilo Doval and Carlos Estevez. Each pitcher can work in the setup and closer position. Any combination can effectively close out games.
A major advantage for the Dominican Republic is that they could play the entire WBC inside Loan Depot Park in Miami. The benefit is the massive local Dominican community that could provide a home-field advantage in each round.
Call it an “Olympic hangover,” but I am craving another high-stakes, winner-take-all international competition. Suddenly, the WBC could become must-see television for the world.
It will be up to the stars of the sport to capture the same magic as the men and women of the recent Olympic hockey competition. They must play with the same intensity that commandeers national pride from the stadium crowds and home viewers.
Everyone should want the WBC to become the perfect opening stanza for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. It could force the owners and the players association to reconsider the use of big league talent in the Olympics, especially if there is a financial benefit to be gained by both sides.
A more realistic goal is for the games to be exciting and serve as the ideal prelude to the 2026 MLB regular season.
