Kevin Barral

Sunday morning in loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins, was an exciting one as the Dominican Republic, which hit three homers, defeated the Netherlands by a final score of 12-1. Toronto Blue Jays star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was a big reason, driving in three runs. Guerrero, who is participating in his first World Baseball Classic, took Netherlands pitcher Eric Mendez deep in the bottom of the third inning to extend the lead, 4-1. The ball left Guerrero's bat at 102.1 mph and went 381 feet to left field. He would finish the night going 2-4 with a home run and three RBI. He drove in the game's first run on an RBI single with a 106.6 mph exit velo. "I feel super happy. When I was touching second base, I began to cry," Guerrero told reporters following the game. "This is just a thing that in this moment I look into the stands, and I see the fans, it's something that makes you want to come out and play, no matter in what mood you are." The 26-year-old first baseman is coming off a 2025 season where he slashed .292/.381/.467/.848 with 23 home runs, 84 RBI, and a 137 wRC+ in 156 games played. In the postseason alone, he hit eight home runs and posted a 1.289 OPS in 18 games. The Blue Jays fell to the Dodgers in the World Series. Guerrero revealed that he was under the weather, unsure if he would play on Sunday, but after looking at the Dominican Republic jersey, he felt like he had to play. "I need to play for my country. I give everything I have for my country, and I'd die on this field for them." It's been just two games so far for the Dominican Republic, but their offense is 21-59 with six home runs, 17 walks, and they are posting a batting average of .356 with a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.212 OPS. They have scored a total of 22 runs. The Dominican Republic will once again take the field on Monday in the noon game, this time against Israel, who will play Nicaragua on Sunday at 7:00 pm. Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric. View full article

Miami, FL – Although Israel fell to Venezuela in their first game of the World Baseball Classic, Toronto Blue Jays prospect RJ Schreck had a nice day, hitting a 413-foot homer in the top of the sixth inning off left-handed pitcher Ricardo Sánchez. d1abb076-d17146eb-5bcd2439-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Schreck, whom the Blue Jays traded for back in 2024 when they sent Justin Turner to the Seattle Mariners, slashed .249/.395/.459/.854 with 18 home runs, 53 RBI and a 143 wRC+ in 105 games played last season. Schreck is Jays Centre's No. 16 prospect in Toronto's system. "They contacted me last year, around August, when I was in Triple A," Schreck said, of playing in his first WBC. "Anytime you get a chance to play in the World Baseball Classic, it's really hard to turn down. I had a feeling that the United States wasn't going to come calling, so just trying to find a place where I could play. I am Jewish, have been Jewish my entire life, so it's just going to be a really fun time playing baseball." Unfortunately for Israel, Venezuela, led by Luis Arraez's multi-homer game, took the game by a final score of 10-2. Israel's first run of the contest came in the top of the fifth inning when Matt Mervis drove in Garrett Stubbs. Schreck and Israel will play again today at 7:00 pm against Nicaragua. Nicaragua was walked off by the Netherlands yesterday on an Ozzie Albies home run. Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric. View full article

JUPITER, FL - Team Israel took the field against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday afternoon for the first of two pre-WBC exhibition games, and one of the biggest stories was that of the Stubbs brothers, C.J. and Garrett. This marked the first time they have taken the field together on the same team. While they both participated in the 2023 installation of the World Baseball Classic, C.J. only entered the tournament after Garrett exited due to injury, "It's a dream come true,” C.J. told Jays Centre. "Every time we ever played with each other growing up, not with baseball, but whether maybe sand volleyball or anything, we competed together and always found a way to win, so we're hoping to do that on this team." Pool D, playing at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, will feature the Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Israel. The chances of Team Israel moving on to the quarterfinals are slim, but manager Brad Ausmus and C.J. Stubbs both find the underdog mentality beneficial. "Hopefully, we're the underdog that doesn't lay down," Ausmus told reporters. "We're gonna come out and in some sense, take the game to them. We're gonna force our game, and I don't think it'd be in our best interest to sit back and wait for the three-run homer, although I'll take it if they hit it." In the last WBC, C.J., the younger Stubbs brother, played in one game, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He will likely factor into the designated hitter mix this year, potentially catching as well. "You just got to take it one game at a time," Stubbs said. "Obviously, we got that win against Nicaragua a couple years ago, and we're gonna go out and try to get game one against Venezuela and take it game by game." During Tuesday's exhibition game, Stubbs went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He reached on an error in the eighth. Israel beat the Marlins 1-0. The 29-year-old, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a minor league deal this offseason, gives a lot of credit to manager John Schneider for allowing him to join the team and play in the WBC. "It's been great to get to know [Schneider]. The Blue Jays have been an incredible place to land, an incredible facility, great people working there, and I'm excited to see what happens in the spring,” he said. Team Israel will head up to Port St. Lucie on Wednesday to face the New York Mets. Then, their first pool play game will take place on Saturday, March 7, against Venezuela at 8:00 pm. View full article