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Examining which Blue Jays’ could participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic
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Photo credit: © Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 27, 2025, 17:30 ESTUpdated: Nov 27, 2025, 17:28 EST
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The World Baseball Classic is just around the corner.
There will be some Toronto Blue Jays players participating in the tournament that will begin in March. You have the obvious players, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but some minor leaguers could factor onto their respective rosters. Not just that, some of the Blue Jays’ free agents and recently released players could find their way onto a national team.
Most people reading this article will likely be cheering for Team Canada. They’ll be in a pool with Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, and Colombia, with games taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Damiano Palmegiani featured on the roster, but didn’t play a game. He’s had a couple of rough seasons, but could be on the roster once again.
So could his former Vauxhall teammate, Adam Macko. Acquired in the Teoscar Hernández trade three years ago, the left-handed pitcher had a 5.06 ERA and 4.56 FIP in 64 innings pitched with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons last season.
One of Macko’s teammates on the Bisons, Dasan Brown, recently hit free agency. That said, he was on Team Canada’s roster last time around and should be this time, thanks to his great speed and strong defence.
Sticking with North America, recently signed pitcher Dylan Cease could factor onto the Team United States roster, as he’s one of the best strikeout artists in Major League Baseball. Alejandro Kirk was initially on Mexico’s WBC roster in 2023, but didn’t appear. You have to imagine he gets the nod this year, as may fellow catcher Brandon Valenzuela.
To the Caribbean Islands, where I’d love to be right now, there are a few Blue Jays players who could feature on their national teams. Guerrero Jr. is eligible to play for Canada as he was born in Montréal, but will play for the Dominican Republic. Yimi García was on the DR’s roster last WBC, but it seems unlikely he’ll make it this time around, as he dealt with an injury. Free Agent Seranthony Domínguez has a chance to make it as well after a strong season.
Moving to Cuba, Yariel Rodríguez made their roster in 2023 and will surely do so again in 2026 after a successful season with the Blue Jays. Last time, the Cubans had an older roster, so prospects Lázaro Estrada and Silvano Hechavarria probably won’t make it, but they are two pitchers to keep an eye on. 
José Berríos will almost certainly make his way onto Puerto Rico’s team in this year’s edition after doing so in 2023. Luis Quiñones also made the roster in 2023, but he was released in 2025 and most recently pitched in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
In Central America, a pair of young Blue Jays should make their country’s roster. Leo Jiménez has big league experience and should be a starter for Team Panama. Fernando Perez had a strong season in the Blue Jays’ minor league system and could find his way on Team Nicaragua
In South America, both Andrés Giménez and Anthony Santander made Team Venezuela’s roster in 2023, and expect them to do the same in the 2026 WBC. Brazil is a bit more interesting. Early in the 2025 season, Bo Bichette announced he’ll play for Team Brazil. He’s still a free agent, but I felt it was worth it to put his name here. Eric Pardinho will also represent Brazil and is a free agent, while Blue Jays’ prospect Sann Omosako has a slight chance of making it.
Overseas, there are a handful of Blue Jays prospects (and a former Blue Jay prospect) who could make their national team. For Great Britain, Jaden Rudd hit a couple of big home runs to help his team qualify for the 2023 WBC. He was released last season, but could feature on their roster in the 2026 WBC. Less likely to feature on GB’s roster is Bahamian J.T. Bain. He signed in January 2024, but is still only 18 years old.
Sticking with a commonwealth country, Juan Ramirez is another player who played for the Blue Jays’ Dominican Summer League teams in 2025. The reliever was born in Sydney, Australia, but the last Australian team didn’t have anyone younger than 20.
Lastly, the Blue Jays signed Curaçaoan catcher Keegan Pieternella during the 2025 International Free Agency period. He didn’t have a particularly great season in the Dominican Summer League last season, but could feature for the Netherlands.
It’ll be interesting to see which Blue Jays (or former Blue Jays) will represent their national teams when the World Baseball Classic kicks off in March.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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