Brazil punched its ticket to the 2026 World Baseball Classic with a 6–4 win over Germany in the WBC Qualifier final this past March in Tucson, Arizona. The victory marks Brazil’s return to the global stage after a 13-year absence, and only their second-ever appearance in the WBC.
Their first and only previous WBC participation came in 2013, when Brazil competed in the Tokyo pool. There, they nearly pulled off one of the most shocking upsets in tournament history, taking a 3–2 lead into the eighth inning against powerhouse Japan before ultimately falling late. Brazil finished that tournament 0–3 and was relegated back to the qualifiers. After failed attempts to rejoin the WBC in 2017 and 2023, the Brazilians have finally returned — now with a revamped roster and fresh ambition.
Brazil’s Bichette Brothers 🇧🇷
For the first time in 10 years, Dante and Bo intend to play together for the Brazilian national team in the 2026 WBC pic.twitter.com/jVtfx8uUm3
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) April 30, 2025
Brazil will compete in Pool B, hosted in Houston, Texas, where they’ll face a daunting slate of opponents: the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Great Britain. Brazil opens the tournament in Houston against WBC favorites USA on March 6.
With two semifinalists from the 2023 edition in the group, Brazil faces an uphill battle to reach the quarterfinals. While advancement would be a monumental achievement, the more realistic and critical objective is to avoid finishing last — which would guarantee automatic qualification for the 2030 World Baseball Classic. To do that, Brazil will need to target wins against Italy and Great Britain, both of which will be pivotal matchups.
Brazil faces a steep challenge in Pool B, but this is clearly a program on the rise. With Bo Bichette anchoring the offense, Dylan Lee closing games, and young talent emerging across the roster, Brazil is looking to pull off an upset.
A win against Italy or Great Britain would be a massive step forward.
Bo Bichette Leads the Way – Shortstop Bo Bichette headlines the Brazilian roster. Eligible through his Brazilian mother, the 27-year-old is Brazil’s lone current MLB position player. While 2025 has been his least productive full season to date — hitting .270/.310/.427 with 12 home runs — advanced metrics suggest he’s due for positive regression. His BABIP is 41 points below his previous career low, and his underlying contact and power metrics remain strong. Bichette will be the centerpiece of the offense and the undisputed leader of this team.
Leonardo Reginatto, 3B – One of the top performers in Mexico this year, Reginatto is enjoying a breakout season with Tigres de Quintana Roo, slashing .298/.359/.542 with a career-best 14 home runs. A lock to start at third base, he’ll provide protection behind Bichette in the lineup and serve as a second key run producer.
Lucas Rojo, 2B – A veteran presence who’s represented Brazil for years, Rojo was excellent at the WBCQ, going 6-for-16 with four RBIs and two doubles. Playing domestically in Brazil, he posted an .812 OPS in the 2024 Brazilian Baseball Cup and is regarded as one of Brazil’s best defenders. He’ll solidify the middle infield.
Victor Coutinho, 1B – Primarily an outfielder throughout his national team career, Coutinho has shifted to first base in 2025 while playing in Italy’s Serie A with Nettuno. He’s posted a strong .282/.406/.577 slash line with 4 HR. He was productive in the WBCQ, driving in five runs in four games, and his positional versatility will be vital.
OF Victor Coutinho is off to a fast start in Italy this season. He is second in Serie A in HR with 3 and has an OPS of 1.019. He’ll be on the Brazil roster at the 2026 World Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/DQCdSsh5Ql
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) May 19, 2025
Gabriel Gomes, C – With Yan Gomes — the best Brazilian-born player in history — likely retired from international duty, 21-year-old Reds prospect Gabriel Gomes is the frontrunner to take over behind the plate. Though he’s hitting just .172 in the Arizona Complex League, he showed promise in the WBCQ and in domestic play. He represents Brazil’s best available option at catcher.
Osvaldo Carvalho, DH – Carvalho plays in Brazil and posted a monster slash line of .429/.474/.743 with a home run in 2024 in Brazil. He went 2-for-4 at the WBCQ and is expected to take on a larger offensive role in 2026.
Vitor Ito, IF/OF – Known for his defense, Ito was a pleasant surprise at the WBCQ, hitting .385 and delivering in key moments. While unlikely to start, he’ll be a valuable late-game option off the bench.
Raphaël Smeenk, IF/OF – A Dutch-Brazilian prospect currently playing college baseball at Tarleton State, Smeenk has been tearing up the Dutch Hoofdklasse, slashing .328/.409/.586 with three homers. His ability to play multiple infield positions and bring power off the bench makes him a key depth piece.
Gabriel Maciel, CF – Maciel is arguably Brazil’s best defensive outfielder and is rebounding offensively in a major way with the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League. After struggling in 2024, he’s now hitting .368/.437/.515 with 19 extra-base hits. His resurgence is crucial for Brazil’s depth and lineup flexibility.
🚨 GABRIEL MACIEL GRAND SALAMI 🚨 #KeepDigging pic.twitter.com/2g402dCIhM
— Sussex County Miners (@SCMiners) June 19, 2024
Lucas Ramírez, RF – Ramírez made a strong impression at the WBCQ, going 5-for-13 with two RBIs. In his first pro season in the Angels system, he’s hitting .265/.350/.449 with 5 stolen bases. He profiles as a top-of-the-order bat and spark plug.
Vinicius dos Santos, LF – At just 18, dos Santos is in his second season in the Dominican Summer League with the Giants and is showing elite plate discipline — a .464 OBP fueled by a 17.9% walk rate and only a 10.7% strikeout rate. While the jump from DSL to the WBC is steep, his ability to get on base may earn him a starting spot.
Bo Takahashi, RHP – A veteran of the U.S. minors and NPB, Takahashi has a 1.71 ERA in Japan’s Eastern League this year. He started Brazil’s WBCQ opener and should take the ball in a crucial matchup against Italy.
Gabriel Barbosa, RHP – A Phillies prospect in High-A, Barbosa posted a 3.83 ERA in A-ball and threw 5.2 innings of one-run ball in his High-A debut. His development makes him a likely starter.
Tiago da Silva, RHP – The 40-year-old is a veteran of previous WBCs (for Italy) and currently pitches in the Mexican League for Caliente de Durango. He has a 4.46 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings. His experience and craft will serve Brazil well in short starts.
Sann Omosako, RHP – Just 19, Omosako is pitching in the Florida Complex League for Toronto. He’s shown flashes with a 4.63 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 35 innings. His upside makes him a candidate for a rotation spot.
Dylan Lee, LHP – One of MLB’s premier left-handed relievers, Lee has a 2.21 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 40.2 IP for the Braves. He’s the likely closer.
Eric Pardinho, RHP – In Triple-A with Toronto, Pardinho owns a 3.50 ERA and 12 K/9, despite a .444 BABIP suggesting significant bad luck. If healthy, he’ll be a key arm in high-leverage situations.
Daniel Missaki, RHP – His numbers as a starter are inflated, but he’s been much better in relief (4.18 ERA, 30 K in 23.2 IP). Expect him to work middle innings.
Around the World Trying to Find a Way Back to the Big Leagues: The Daniel Missaki Story
Brazil Projected Roster
CF – Gabriel Maciel
RF – Lucas Ramírez
SS – Bo Bichette
3B – Leonardo Reginatto
1B – Victor Countinho
2B – Lucas Rojo
LF – Vinicius dos Santos
C – Gabriel Gomes
CF – Gabriel Maciel
DH – Osvaldo Carvalho
Bench
IF – Dante Bichette Jr.
IF – Raphaël Smeenk
C – Gabriel do Carmo
OF – Daniel Yonemura
IF – Victor Ito
OF – Manny Ramírez Jr.
Starting Rotation
RHP – Bo Takahashi
RHP – Gabriel Barbosa
RHP – Tiago da Silva
RHP – Sann Omosako
Bullpen
LHP – Dylan Lee
RHP – Pedro Lemos
RHP – Daniel Missaki
RHP – Joseph Contreras
LHP – Oscar Nakaoshi
RHP – Eric Pardinho
LHP – Enzo Sawayama
LHP – Gustavo Aoki
RHP – Paulo Noris
RHP – Heitor Tokar
RHP – Arthur Tsujiguchi
WBN WBC: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
Photo: Brazil celebrates a 12-2 mercy rule victory over China in seven innings at the WBC qualifiers in Tucson.
