Team Puerto Rico’s roster set for World Baseball Classic

By THE STAR STAFF

The roster for the Puerto Rico national team that will compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was announced late last week. 

WBC play will begin for Team Puerto Rico on March 6 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan as the island hosts Pool A in the tournament’s opening round. Joining Puerto Rico in Pool A will be Canada, Colombia, Cuba and Panama. Puerto Rico opens on Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET against Colombia.

“We have a very talented roster with great potential,” Puerto Rico Baseball Federation President José Quiles Rosas said. “We will have several players participating for the first time in a World Baseball Classic and others who are returning to play with our team, all with the same commitment and the same desire to represent Puerto Rico with dignity. The fact that the [Pool A] tournament is being held in San Juan, in our home, in front of our people, adds a special motivation for each of them and for the entire country.”

The Team Puerto Rico pitchers are Elmer Rodríguez, José de León, Fernando Cruz, Seth Lugo, Raymond Burgos, Edwin Díaz, José Espada, Rico García, Jorge López, Jovani Morán, Luis Quiñones, Ángel Reyes, Yacksel Ríos, Eduardo Rivera, Gabriel Rodríguez and Ricardo Vélez.

The position players are Martín Maldonado, Christian Vázquez, Nolan Arenado (who played for the U.S. in the 2017 and 2023 Classics), Willi Castro, Edwin Arroyo, Darell Hernaiz, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vázquez, Carlos Cortés, Matthew Lugo, MJ Meléndez, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario and Bryan Torres.

The reserve roster consists of pitchers José Berríos, Jona than Bermúdez and Alexis Díaz.

Carlos Beltrán, the general manager of the national team, sent a message to the island from New York, where he was attending to family commitments.

“These have been intense days of work, seeking solutions regarding the eligibility of some players,” Beltrán said. “It hasn’t been an easy process, but we feel that we have made significant progress. With the available players, we will have a contending team, a team that we are proud of and that will do a good job representing Puerto Rico in the Classic. Since we are hosting the tournament in Puerto Rico, our intention was always to have several players who have participated in previous Classics. Even so, the tournament continues, and we have complete confidence in the players who will be representing us.”

Team Puerto Rico will be without the services of major league veterans Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, who were denied insurance coverage for the WBC by Major League Baseball’s insurer. Lindor was slated to be team captain. Also missing from “Team Rubio” will be stalwarts Javer Báez, who was disqualified as a result of testing positive for marijuana in 2023, and Enrique “Kiké” Hernández, who is recovering from surgery.

“Despite some important absences, we are ready to step up and put together a team that will represent our island in the best possible way,” Team Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina said. “We’re always with our own. Long live Puerto Rico!”