In 2023, Venezuela won its pool in the World Baseball Classic but lost to the United States 9-7 in the quarterfinals. However, two players who were not on the team in 2023 could actually be the difference-makers in 2026. Jackson Chourio and William Contreras have been key players for the Brewers but could team up for their country next year.
Last season, Chourio made his MLB Debut at just 20 years old. He started off slow, but he had a second half that showed he could be a superstar in Major League Baseball. He slashed .310/.363/.552 in the second half and hit 12 home runs. Not to mention, he plays excellent defense in the outfield. This year, he has picked up right where he left off. He has already hit five home runs and has been one of the best players on the Brewers.
The 21-year-old could make his impact for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic next season. The World Baseball Classic is one of the biggest stages in baseball, and Chourio has already proven he can handle the pressure. Last postseason, he had a two-home run game with the Brewers facing elimination.
Chourio is not the only Venezuelan superstar who was left off the roster in 2023. Contreras, who was coming off his first All-Star season with the Atlanta Braves, had just been traded to the Brewers.
Since then, he has won back-to-back Silver Sluggers and has cemented himself as one of the best catchers in baseball. In 2024, Contreras was named the starting catcher for the National League in the All-Star game. He has a .729 OPS this season and was named National League Player of the Week after a three-homer road trip.
Venezuela already has superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Jose Altuve, Luis Arráez, and Anthony Santander. That group was not enough to get the job done in 2023, but adding the best catcher in baseball and a budding superstar could propel Venezuela to glory. While the rest of the world raves about Samurai Japan and Team USA, Venezuela could be a sleeping giant.
