Which Blue Jays Are Playing in the World Baseball Classic?

[Jesse Burrill]

Ernie Clement is no stranger to the big stage.

Blue Jays fans have known how talented Clement is for a while, but the rest of baseball took notice this postseason. With an MLB record 30 hits, hitting over .400, he was firmly in the World Series MVP consideration.

At the end of the year, he accumulated a 3.2 fWAR, which ranked him as one of the top 60 players in the sport last season. Pair that with a 10.4% K Rate and an elite ability to square up the baseball (both in the 97th percentile), and he’s developed into a complete baseball player.

Mark DeRosa and Team USA took notice, too. 

Confirmed

• 1B - Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Dominican Republic
• C - Alejandro Kirk, Mexico
• LHP - Adam Macko, Canada
• INF - Ernie Clement, USA

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal, but committed early on to play for the Dominican Republic in the tournament. It will be his first appearance after backing out of the 2023 tournament due to right knee discomfort. Alejandro Kirk will also be making his debut in the tournament. He missed the 2023 tournament due to the birth of his child, and he’ll be the number one catcher for the team. Adam Macko, a left-handed pitcher in the Blue Jays organization, was born in Slovakia but grew up in Canada, and Shi Davidi reported that he will pitch for Team Canada in the tournament.

Still Unsure, but Likely

• SS - Andrés Giménez, Venezuela
• OF - Anthony Santander, Venezuela
• 3B - Kazuma Okamoto, Japan
• SP - José Berríos, Puerto Rico,
• RHP - Yariel Rodriguez - Cuba
• SS - Leo Jimenez - Panama

Team Venezuela has been delayed in naming their roster, but some names have started being announced. Both Gimenez and Santander played on the 2023 team, with Santander hitting 2 home runs and a 1.332 OPS in the tournament. There is a chance Santander chooses to remain in camp, but if he’s fully healthy (which John Schneider says he is), then he’s a name to keep an eye on. Okamoto stated in his press conference that he wants to play for Japan, and after his heroics in the last tournament, it seems likely he’ll be back. A similar case to José Berríos, who pitched in 2023 and wants to return. It's the same story for Yariel Rodriguez, who pitched for Team Cuba in the past and, after being outrighted off the 40-man roster, may use the WBC as another stage to showcase his skills. Jimenez has major league experience and has been approached by the Panamanian Baseball Federation to play; he’s just awaiting Blue Jays approval, which he’ll likely get.

Still Unsure

• RHP - Yimi Garcia, Dominican Republic
• RHP - Dylan Cease, USA
• RHP - Kevin Gausman, USA
• RHP Cody Ponce, Mexico
• C - Brandon Valenzuela, Mexico
• RHP - Lazaro Estrada, Cuba

Yimi Garcia played on the 2023 team, but after coming off elbow surgery, he may not want to pitch in the tournament. Cease and Gausman are certainly good enough to pitch for Team USA, but their starting rotation already seems set. Ponce stated in the Foul Territory podcast in December that he wants to play in the tournament. But “Will have to talk to the Jays and see what they want him to do.” Valenzuela is eligible for Mexico, with Kirk being the number one option. Valenzuela could be getting consideration. Estrada was passed on in the 2023 tournament, but he does have MLB experience and could be an option.

Will Not Play

George Springer - Puerto Rico
George Springer had originally committed to playing, but has since dropped out to recover from injury, as he was dealing with several injuries towards the end of the 2025 season.

Blue Jays fans will not only get to watch current players compete in the tournament, but the teams will also feature prominent Blue Jays players of the past. Here are some other names of players who are likely to represent their country in the tournament.

• RHP - Aaron Sanchez, Mexico
• INF - Bo Bichette, Brazil
• SS - Otto Lopez, Canada
• RHP - Paolo Espino, Panama
• LHP - Matthew Boyd, USA
• RHP - Taijuan Walker, Mexico
• RHP - Liam Hendricks, Australia

Some other names, Yusei Kikuchi for Japan, Hyun Jin Ryu and Mitch White for Korea, Rowdy Tellez, and Anthony Banda for Team Mexico, are all eligible and may be on their respective teams, but none of those names are confirmed yet.

Pitchers and catchers are set to report on February 11, and the World Baseball Classic will get underway on March 5. With Talent, star power, and some of the best players from all countries around the world, the tournament is set up to be one of the best ones yet. For Ernie Clement, it's a chance to build on his breakout season and showcase his versatility alongside some of the game’s biggest stars, and he, like the rest of his teammates, will prove the belong on the stage with baseball’s biggest stars.

View full article

[Leo Morgenstern]

Canada has a real shot to make it out of the first round for the first time this year. That's what I'll be rooting for during pool play. But in terms of the actual realistic contenders, it's hard not to root for Vladdy and the D.R. What a fun team.

And I do hope the Jays let Okamoto play. It would be nice to have at least one Blue Jay on all of the top three contenders (USA, DR, Japan)