Puerto Rico will be without star players Francisco Lindor, Javy Baez and Carlos Correa for the World Baseball Classic, but they will still have a team capable of making a deep run.
On the pitching side of things, Seth Lugo gives Puerto Rico a great option in the rotation. He was the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in 2024 and has a 3.48 ERA in his last 59 starts. Edwin Díaz is one of the best closers in the game and will be looking to make an impact after getting injured in the last World Baseball Classic. Fernando Cruz has become a great weapon for the New York Yankees bullpen, and he had a 3.56 ERA last season.
Offensively, Willi Castro is coming off a decent season. He had a .743 OPS before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. Heliot Ramos is a name to watch as well. He was an All-Star in 2024 and has 43 home runs in the last two seasons.
Pitchers:
Raymond Burgos (Guerreros de Oaxaca)
Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers)
José De León
Jose Espada (Baltimore Orioles)
Fernando Cruz (New York Yankees)
Rico Garcia (Baltimore Orioles)
Jorge López
Seth Lugo (Kansas City Royals)
Jovani Moran (Boston Red Sox)
Luis Quiñones (Minnesota Twins)
Angel Reyes (Saraperos de Saltillo)
Eduardo Rivera (Boston Red Sox)
Elmer Rodríguez (New York Yankees)
Gabriel Rodríguez (Leones de Ponce)
Yacksel Ríos (Chicago Cubs)
Ricardo Vélez (Texas Rangers)
Catcher:
Martín Maldonado
Christian Vázquez
Infielders:
Edwin Arroyo (Cincinnati Reds)
Darell Hernaiz (Athletics)
Emmanuel Rivera
Nolan Arenado (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Luis Vázquez (Baltimore Orioles)
Outfielders:
Willi Castro (Colorado Rockies)
MJ Melendez (New York Mets)
Eddie Rosario
Heliot Ramos (San Francisco Giants)
Bryan Torres (St. Louis Cardinals)
Carlos Cortes (Athletics)
Matthew Lugo (Los Angeles Angels)
Photo: San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos breaks his bat while fouling off a pitch during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
