The Los Angeles Dodgers figure to be well-represented in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but to this point only have one confirmed participated in Shohei Ohtani, who announced plans to play for Team Japan as they look to repeat as champions.
Although they haven’t formally committed yet, Mookie Betts and Will Smith could both return to the international competition as well with Team USA. They were part of the 2023 United States roster that lost to Japan in the championship game.
Freddie Freeman (Canada) and Teoscar Hernández (Dominican Republic) could also play for their respective countries in the sixth iteration of the WBC.
During an appearance on “On Base With Mookie Betts” podcast, Hernández said he’s interested in playing in the 2026 WBC and wants to help lead Team Dominican Republic to a championship:
“Yeah, for sure. Representing your country is the best thing you can do as an athlete. … That’s the ultimate step. I won in the Winter League in the Dominican, I won in the Minor Leagues, I won in the World Series. So now I want to win in the WBC.”
Team Dominican Republic went 2-2 in pool play in the last World Baseball Classic and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.
It was a disappointing outcome for the Dominican Republic, which won the WBC in 2013 with a star-studded roster that included Robinson Canó, Nelson Cruz, Edwin Encarnación, José Reyes and Hanley Ramírez, among others.
Team Dominican Republic will look for better results next year as part of Pool D, when they face the likes of Venezuela, the Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua.
Opening round games of the World Baseball Classic 2026 are scheduled to be played from March 5-11. Quarterfinals are being played March 13 and 14, with the semifinals taking place on March 15 and 16.
The WBC championship game will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., on Tuesday, March 17.
Teoscar Hernaández’s history in WBC
Hernández played for the Dominican Republic during the 2023 World Baseball Classic and went hitless in five at-bats with two walks.
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