Mexico has lost one of its top starting pitchers for the 2026 World Baseball Classic less than a month before the event begins.
Jose Urquidy, a former Major Leaguer who signed a $1.5 million free agent deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates last month, has been ruled out after being unable to obtain insurance to pitch in the event given his extensive history of arm surgery.
The Mazatlan, Mexico-native made six starts during the 2024-25 LAMP season for his hometown Venados this winter, throwing 33 innings with a 1.09 ERA, allowing just four earned runs and and striking out 35 while walking just eight of the 128 batters he faced. In total, just 31 of the batters Urquidy faced in Mexico this winter reached base, and he posted a 0.848 WHIP. He then went to the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic’s LIDOM as a reinforcement, throwing 16 innings over five starts with a 4.50 ERA, striking out eight and walking one.
A six-year major league veteran, Urquidy is 27-16 with a 4.00 ERA in 70 starts and 11 relief appearances for the Astros (2019-23) and Tigers. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 while in Houston’s farm system and then had the procedure done a second time in 2024.
His replacement on the Mexico roster, Roel Ramirez, made two appearances in MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals, one each in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, allowing nine runs on seven hits and three walks in one total inning of work. He has since pitched in with the Toros de Tijuana in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol and the Tomateros de Culiacan in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico, as well as with the Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico’s LBPRC this past winter. With Caguas, Ramirez posted a 1.09 ERA in 24 2/3 innings, striking out 25 and walking seven with a 0.932 WHIP.
Photo: Detroit Tigers pitcher José Urquidy (65) aims a pitch during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
