Star-studded Dominican Republic are World Baseball Classic Group D favourites
Miami, Florida, USA, will host Group D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park from Friday, March 6, to Wednesday, March 11. The five participating National Teams include World No. 5 Venezuela, No. 9 Netherlands, No. 12 Dominican Republic, No. 16 Nicaragua and No. 21 Israel.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has a roster loaded with 16 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Stars. Manager Albert Pujols, who represented the country as a player in 2006, will count on a fearsome lineup.
Juan Soto (New York Mets), Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr (San Diego Padres), Vlad Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays) and Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays) combine for 1,000 career MLB home runs. Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins), Cristopher Sánchez (Philadelphia Phillies) and Brayan Bello (Boston Red Sox) are among MLB's most established starters.
The Dominicans are the clear favourites.
Venezuela
Venezuela's manager, Omar Lopez, will field a team including 27 MLB players. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is the most recognisable star. Jackson Chourio (Milwaukee Brewers) will provide home run power and speed.
Veteran Luis Arráez, a WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup winner, has three batting titles under his belt. All-Star catcher William Contreras will have a superstar backup in Salvador Perez, returning for his fourth World Baseball Classic.
The pitching staff has a pair of aces in left-handers Ranger Suarez (Boston Red Sox) and Eduardo Rodriguez (Arizona Diamondbacks). Flame-throwing right-hander Daniel Palencia (Chicago Cubs) will serve as the closer.
The Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, who had a disappointing campaign in 2023, will add to veterans All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts (San Diego Padres) and slugger Jurickson Profar (Atlanta Braves), emerging MLB stars such as Gold Glove centre fielder Ceddane Rafaela (Boston Red Sox) and second baseman Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves).
The Kingdom's weakness has always been the pitching staff. Manager Andruw Jones, a recent Hall of Fame inductee, added to the roster an ace starter in Antwone Kelly (Pittsburgh Pirates) and elite closer Kenley Jansen (Detroit Tigers).
Jones will also have a chance to manage his son Druw, a top prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organisation.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua earned their spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic through the Taipei Qualifier. The National Federation hired legendary skipper Dusty Baker, a World Series winner as a player and manager, as their manager.
Baker convinced star third baseman Mark Vientos (New York Mets) to represent his father's homeland over Puerto Rico to make a strong middle-of-the-lineup addition.
Former MLB prospect Jeter Downs had a productive season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) while infielder Benjamin Alegria and right-hander Duque Hebbert starred for Nicaragua in 2023. Outfielder Ismael Munguia, who won the Dominican Winter League, is a fan favourite.
Right-hander Carlos Rodriguez, a top prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers, will be the ace of the pitching staff.
Israel
Former Gold Glove catcher Brad Asmus will manage Israel, with World Series winner Kevin Youkilis serving as the bench coach.
Compared to the 2023 team, Israel improved their pitching staff by adding veteran relievers Tommy Kahnle and Eli Morgan. Dean Kremer (Baltimore Orioles), the first Israeli citizen drafted by an MLB club, will be the ace of the staff.
Spencer Horwitz (Pittsburgh Pirates) returns to a lineup that will have San Francisco Giants Gold Glove outfielder Harrison Bader as the strongest addition.
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Cover photo: MLB/Getty Images