Pool A of this year’s World Baseball Classic kicked off Friday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with opening victories from Cuba over Panama and Puerto Rico over Colombia.
World Baseball Network writers picked Canada to win Pool A and advance to the quarterfinals. Each of the five teams in the pool received one selection to finish in second place and move on to the quarterfinals.
Let’s take a look at Monday’s results and the upcoming schedule in San Juan.
Colombia (1-3) 4, Panama (1-3) 3 – Hearts were broken, and records are final as Colombia and Panama played their last game of this year’s WBC. Both teams, desperate for a win, were held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning.
Following Jordan Diaz’s sacrifice fly, Colombia’s Reynaldo Rodriguez roped a two-run single to left field to extend the lead to 3-0. Later, Daniel Vellojin plated Rodriguez with an RBI single of his own. Panama pulled to within one with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but shortstop Jose Caballero, who connected for a solo homer in the sixth, left the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth, hitting a lazy fly ball to right field for the final out.
There are still a few more days until fans will know which of these teams will be relegated from Pool A. If Canada also finishes 1-3 in pool play, there will be a three-way tie for last, and tiebreakers (head-to-head record, runs allowed per defensive out, etc.) will come into play.
Puerto Rico (3-0) 4, Cuba (2-1), 1 – Five Puerto Rico pitchers combined to strike out 10 of Cuba’s hitters, and allowed just two hits in the process. New York Yankees pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez threw just 21 of his 50 pitches for strikes and walked three, but handed the ball off to a lockdown bullpen, including closer Edwin Diaz.
With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, recently retired Major League catcher Martin Maldonado sent the first pitch he saw past the diving Yoan Moncada at third base and down the left field line, scoring all three on base. Maldonado’s bases-clearing knock was practically all the offense Puerto Rico needed as they booked a ticket to the quarterfinal. Alfredo Despaigne drove home Cuba’s lone run of the game on an RBI double to right-center field in the sixth, scoring Ariel Martinez from first base.
Tuesday’s Pool A Schedule
All Times Eastern Standard Time
7 p.m. – Canada (1-1) vs. Puerto Rico (3-0) – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – TV: Tubi – Jordan Balazovic is on the mound for Canada as Puerto Rico turns to Jose De Leon following their quarterfinal clinch.
Photo: Puerto Rico’s players celebrate at the end of a World Baseball Classic game against Cuba in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
