<p>The 2026 World Baseball Classic is officially set, with the qualifiers complete earlier this month. There are 20 countries set to compete for a world championship next year, and you can guarantee that some representatives are going to be hailing from the Blue Jays.</p>
<p>The participating countries are Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, the United States of America, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, and Brazil.</p>
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<h2><strong>Dominican Republic</strong></h2>
<p>The Dominican Republic is a flagship island for professional baseball, producing some of MLB’s top talent in bulk. This includes the Toronto Blue Jays.</p>
<p>Toronto’s face of the franchise, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, chose to play for the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, despite being born in Montreal, Canada. He pulled out of the tournament due to knee discomfort during spring training.</p>
<p>Guerrero will likely be called upon again next year, although he is a pending free agent and may focus on his potential new team instead of the tournament. He’s been in the best shape yet with expectations to be at his hottest competitive level. Along with Vladdy would be Yimi García, who participated in 2023, and could be in for another tournament next March.</p>
<h2><strong>Puerto Rico</strong></h2>
<p>The other big participant from the islands includes the powerhouse Team Puerto Rico.</p>
<p>The Blue Jays can expect to have representation from their key starting pitcher, Jose Berrios. Berrios, a born Puerto Rican, was on the 2023 pitching staff. He made one start but allowed five runs off of five hits to Venezuela.</p>
<h2><strong>Venezuela</strong></h2>
<p>Both of the Blue Jays&#8217; newly acquired pieces will be expected to be on the 2026 rosters for Team Venezuela.  Infielder Andres Gimenez is Venezuelan born, and participated in the 2023, along with newly acquired outfield-slugger, Anthony Santander.</p>
<p>The outfielder smacked two home runs and collected six hits through 17 at-bats while Gimenez collected five hits of his own and added one RBI to the tune of a .368 OBP.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Santander. Tie game. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldBaseballClassic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldBaseballClassic</a> <a href="https://t.co/cZr8DppHbX">pic.twitter.com/cZr8DppHbX</a></p>
<p>&mdash; World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBCBaseball/status/1634717281266683904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>Mexico</h2>
<p>Toronto’s starting catcher could get some extra in-game reps next spring playing for his home country. The Tijuana-born backstop could be considered for Team Mexico. Alejandro Kirk did not participate in the 2023 tournament after having a baby and stating he did not have enough time to ramp up with the Blue Jays.</p>
<p>Kirk has noted that he wants to represent Mexico next spring in the tournament.</p>
<h2>Cuba</h2>
<p>The Blue Jays signed right-hander Yariel Rodríguez after he became free agent eligible during the 2023/2024 offseason. Rodríguez only pitched competitively that year in the World Baseball Classic, as he did not return to Japan to continue pitching for the Chunichi Dragons as he wanted to pursue a contract in the Major Leagues.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yariel Rodriguez 🇨🇺(26), ace of Cuba in the V World Baseball Classic continues to train everyday in the Dominican Republic. </p>
<p>It is expected that by the end of this year there will be progress on his particular case with the Chunichi Dragons in the Nippon Professional Baseball… <a href="https://t.co/XkopbwHDZF">pic.twitter.com/XkopbwHDZF</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) <a href="https://twitter.com/francysromeroFR/status/1704825670663106857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Major league players were permitted to play for Cuba for the first time at the 2023 tournament and we can expect Rodríguez to pay it forward to his country and represent them again this upcoming tournament.</p>
<h2>Panama</h2>
<p>Panama returns to the World Baseball Classic after an impressive showing at the 2023 tournament, going 2-2 in the group play.</p>
<p>Currently in the Blue Jays camp on a minor league deal, catcher Christian Bethancourt will likely be repping the national team again next March and could be joined by infielder Leo Jimenez, who would be making his tournament debut in 2026 if named to the squad.</p>
<h2>Canada</h2>
<p>The Blue Jays may lack in representing the nation, as their Canadian content is not as rich as it was.</p>
<p>Reliever Zach Pop will be one name that’s likely included on the Canadian pitching staff given his experience, along with the possibility of outfielder Dasan Brown in the lineup. Damiano Palmegiani was named to the 2023 roster but didn&#8217;t see any playing time. This time around, he could be a key member of the infield, especially with his plus power. Prospect pitcher Connor O&#8217;Halloran may also factor into the roster as well.</p>
<h2>United States</h2>
<p>On the other hand, the United States have a wide range of options to choose from.</p>
<p>Performance will be key, but candidates for USA can include Blue Jays veteran addition Max Scherzer, along with Chris Bassitt, Jeff Hoffman, and Kevin Gausman.</p>
<p>George Springer and Bo Bichette (more on Bo later) could also be in that conversation for the USA. The Blue Jays did not have representation for USA in the 2023 tournament.</p>
<h2>Brazil</h2>
<p>Brazil is heading back to the 2026 World Baseball Classic after securing a qualifier spot earlier this month. Jays prospect Eric Pardinho was on that team, appearing in one outing for Brazil, and he will likely be called upon again next year for the big tournament.</p>
<p>Bichette could also be on the roster, as he qualifies for the tournament through his mother being born in Brazil. Bichette&#8217;s brother Dante was on the qualifier roster a couple of weeks ago and Bo was on the roster for Brazil during their 2017 qualifier tournament, although they failed to make the WBC tournament.</p>
<h2>Great Britain</h2>
<p>Blue Jays prospect Jaden Rudd was born in the United Kingdom and suited up for the nation at the 2023 WBC, collecting two hits through six at-bats. Rudd will likely be joining the UK again next spring and be a pivotal part of their outfield this time around.</p>
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The 2026 World Baseball Classic is officially set, with the qualifiers complete earlier this month. There are 20 countries set to compete for a world championship next year, and you can guarantee that some representatives are going to be hailing from the Blue Jays.

The participating countries are Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, the United States of America, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, and Brazil.
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<h2><strong>Dominican Republic</strong></h2>
The Dominican Republic is a flagship island for professional baseball, producing some of MLB’s top talent in bulk. This includes the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto’s face of the franchise, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, chose to play for the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, despite being born in Montreal, Canada. He pulled out of the tournament due to knee discomfort during spring training.

Guerrero will likely be called upon again next year, although he is a pending free agent and may focus on his potential new team instead of the tournament. He’s been in the best shape yet with expectations to be at his hottest competitive level. Along with Vladdy would be Yimi García, who participated in 2023, and could be in for another tournament next March.
<h2><strong>Puerto Rico</strong></h2>
The other big participant from the islands includes the powerhouse Team Puerto Rico.

The Blue Jays can expect to have representation from their key starting pitcher, Jose Berrios. Berrios, a born Puerto Rican, was on the 2023 pitching staff. He made one start but allowed five runs off of five hits to Venezuela.
<h2><strong>Venezuela</strong></h2>
Both of the Blue Jays' newly acquired pieces will be expected to be on the 2026 rosters for Team Venezuela.  Infielder Andres Gimenez is Venezuelan born, and participated in the 2023, along with newly acquired outfield-slugger, Anthony Santander.

The outfielder smacked two home runs and collected six hits through 17 at-bats while Gimenez collected five hits of his own and added one RBI to the tune of a .368 OBP.

https://twitter.com/WBCBaseball/status/1634717281266683904
<h2>Mexico</h2>
Toronto’s starting catcher could get some extra in-game reps next spring playing for his home country. The Tijuana-born backstop could be considered for Team Mexico. Alejandro Kirk did not participate in the 2023 tournament after having a baby and stating he did not have enough time to ramp up with the Blue Jays.

Kirk has noted that he wants to represent Mexico next spring in the tournament.
<h2>Cuba</h2>
The Blue Jays signed right-hander Yariel Rodríguez after he became free agent eligible during the 2023/2024 offseason. Rodríguez only pitched competitively that year in the World Baseball Classic, as he did not return to Japan to continue pitching for the Chunichi Dragons as he wanted to pursue a contract in the Major Leagues.

https://twitter.com/francysromeroFR/status/1704825670663106857

Major league players were permitted to play for Cuba for the first time at the 2023 tournament and we can expect Rodríguez to pay it forward to his country and represent them again this upcoming tournament.
<h2>Panama</h2>
Panama returns to the World Baseball Classic after an impressive showing at the 2023 tournament, going 2-2 in the group play.

Currently in the Blue Jays camp on a minor league deal, catcher Christian Bethancourt will likely be repping the national team again next March and could be joined by infielder Leo Jimenez, who would be making his tournament debut in 2026 if named to the squad.
<h2>Canada</h2>
The Blue Jays may lack in representing the nation, as their Canadian content is not as rich as it was.

Reliever Zach Pop will be one name that’s likely included on the Canadian pitching staff given his experience, along with the possibility of outfielder Dasan Brown in the lineup. Damiano Palmegiani was named to the 2023 roster but didn't see any playing time. This time around, he could be a key member of the infield, especially with his plus power. Prospect pitcher Connor O'Halloran may also factor into the roster as well.
<h2>United States</h2>
On the other hand, the United States have a wide range of options to choose from.

Performance will be key, but candidates for USA can include Blue Jays veteran addition Max Scherzer, along with Chris Bassitt, Jeff Hoffman, and Kevin Gausman.

George Springer and Bo Bichette (more on Bo later) could also be in that conversation for the USA. The Blue Jays did not have representation for USA in the 2023 tournament.
<h2>Brazil</h2>
Brazil is heading back to the 2026 World Baseball Classic after securing a qualifier spot earlier this month. Jays prospect Eric Pardinho was on that team, appearing in one outing for Brazil, and he will likely be called upon again next year for the big tournament.

Bichette could also be on the roster, as he qualifies for the tournament through his mother being born in Brazil. Bichette's brother Dante was on the qualifier roster a couple of weeks ago and Bo was on the roster for Brazil during their 2017 qualifier tournament, although they failed to make the WBC tournament.
<h2>Great Britain</h2>
Blue Jays prospect Jaden Rudd was born in the United Kingdom and suited up for the nation at the 2023 WBC, collecting two hits through six at-bats. Rudd will likely be joining the UK again next spring and be a pivotal part of their outfield this time around.

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