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 Sunday’s results and the upcoming schedule in San Juan.
Cuba (2-0) 7, Colombia (0-3) 4 – Cuba did most of its damage in the bottom of the first, as Ariel Martinez connected for a three-run home run, and Erisbel Arruebarrena followed him with a solo homer two batters later. Colombia cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth, but a run-scoring error and a two-run triple from Cuba second baseman Yiddi Cappe in the bottom half of the frame put the game out of reach.
Cuba’s fans cheer for their team during a World Baseball Classic game between Cuba and Colombia in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Denny Larrondo allowed one unearned run and walked four compared to just one strikeout in his two innings on the mound as Cuba’s starting pitcher. Colombia right-hander Luis Patino was replaced following Arruebarrena’s dinger and recorded just one out. Raidel Martinez, a closer in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yomiuri Giants, struck out two batters in the ninth to close the book on Colombia, who are now eliminated from quarterfinal contention.
Panama (1-2) 4, Canada (1-1) 3 – A pair of RBI singles from Abraham Toro and Denzel Clarke in the bottom of the second and fourth innings, respectively, put Canada ahead 2-1 heading into the top of the sixth.
Photo: Panama’s Leo Jimenez catches a fly ball against Canada as Jose Caballero looks on during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Canada’s manager, Ernie Whitt, turned to 37-year-old James Paxton, who last played in the Major Leagues in 2024, in relief. Things didn’t work out quite as Whitt or Paxton had hoped. Panama plated two runs on Ruben Tejada’s bases-loaded infield single and a throwing error from the lefty pitcher, who took the relay from the outfield and turned and fired a strike over catcher Bo Naylor’s head. Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. showed off his speed, legging out an RBI infield single on a bunt that took one hop toward second baseman Edouard Julien.
Canada made a final push in the eighth on Owen Caissie’s RBI double to cut the deficit to 4-3 in favor of Panama, but they went down quietly against Panama closer Dario Agrazal in the ninth.
Monday’s Pool A Schedule
All Times Eastern Standard Time
12 p.m. – Colombia (0-3) vs. Panama (1-2) – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – TV: FS2 – Colombia turns to 31-year-old Adrian Almeida on the mound as his squad needs a victory to avoid a potential fifth-place finish in Pool A and be relegated to the next WBC qualifier tournament. Panama is in a similar boat and would likely prefer not to leave its fate up to tiebreakers.
7 p.m. – Puerto Rico (2-0) vs. Cuba (2-0) – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – TV: FS1 – New York Yankees prospect Elmer Rodriguez looks to extend Puerto Rico’s hot start to the WBC against left-hander Julio Robaina and the rest of Cuba’s pitching staff, who have allowed just four earned runs in 18 innings.
Photo: Cuba’s Ariel Martinez, left, celebrates with Roel Santos after hitting a two-runs home run against Colombia during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
