The World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, and countries are assembling their rosters. Mexico reached the semifinals in 2023 and could again be a contender.
Mexico is expected to have Jarren Duran, Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes back in 2026. However, it is not always about big names in a tournament like the World Baseball Classic. Role players will be just as important as stars for Mexico.
Alex Carrillo could be one of those important role players, as he has expressed interest in joining the team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to Luis Gilbert.
https://twitter.com/LuisGilbertLop/status/1945960301519577124
Carrillo, 28, is a right-hander who was born in California. He has spent most of this season in the minor leagues and has made three appearances for the Mets. He has a 3.24 ERA in 19 games across Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Carrillo was part of the Texas Rangers organization in 2019. Since then, he has pitched in the Frontier League, Mexican League and Venezuelan Winter League. His numbers may not stand out on paper, but he could be a solid player for Mexico.
His four-seam fastball averages 97.8 mph, according to Baseball Savant. His slider and splitter velocities are also above the league average. His velocity could make him a valuable reliever for Mexico as it tries to win the World Baseball Classic.
WBN WBC: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
