Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodríguez will officially represent Team Cuba at this year’s World Baseball Classic in March, Francys Romero of Beisbol FR reported Thursday. 

Rodríguez, who pitched for Cuba during the 2023 tournament before defecting shortly afterwards, received approval from the Blue Jays to participate in the upcoming best-on-best event, per Romero’s report. He’ll report to Dunedin, Fla., for spring training on Feb. 11 before joining his fellow countrymen in Arizona on Mar. 1.

Toronto’s brass has placed special conditions on Rodríguez’s participation, however, prohibiting him from working as a starter and pitching more than two innings per outing.

The 28-year-old Rodríguez made two starts for Cuba in ’23, allowing a pair of runs on five hits and six walks — plus two hit-by-pitches — while striking out 10 over 7.1 innings pitched. He took the rest of the year off after the tournament concluded.

During the 2023-24 off-season, the right-hander inked a five-year, $32 million contract with the Blue Jays and spent the entire campaign as a starter, making 21 starts with the big-league club. But after things didn’t click during his inaugural season, he was moved to the bullpen last season — only to be mired with mixed results, as evidenced by his 3.08 ERA, 4.40 FIP and 10.7 per cent strikeout-minus-walk rate (K-BB%) in 66 appearances (one start).

Rodríguez slipped down the bullpen depth chart and was relegated to low-leverage situations down the stretch and during the post-season, ultimately prompting the front office to reportedly explore trade scenarios for the Cuban hurler this off-season. But after those efforts proved unviable, they outrighted him off the 40-man roster once he went unclaimed through waivers.

Since then, the Blue Jays have invited Rodríguez to major league camp as a non-roster invitee, where he’ll attempt to regain his standing amongst the organization’s surplus of relievers — both at the major league and triple-A levels.

But enjoying a strong performance during this year’s WBC could certainly help put him back on the front office’s radar, too. Or even improve his case as a more desirable trade target, who’s owed $17 million over the next three seasons.