The Dominican Republic under Federacion Dominicana de Beisbol president Juan Nunez enters a decisive stretch before the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Pool D at loanDepot Park runs March 6–11 against Israel, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Netherlands. The opener is March 6 at 7 p.m. ET versus Nicaragua.
All 47 games are scheduled to air in the United States across FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports App, FOX One, Tubi, and FOX Deportes in Spanish.
Nelson Cruz is recruiting Austin Wells to play for the Dominican Republic at the 2026 WBC. There is mutual interest. He is by far the best defender behind the plate available for DR at the 2026 WBC https://t.co/h3iIxl6srp
Wells is eligible through his mother’s Dominican heritage. He was selected 28th overall by the Yankees in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Arizona and signed on June 25, 2020 for a 2.5 million dollar bonus. New York was eliminated Wednesday, October 8, 2025 by Toronto in the Division Series. From today, the catcher has roughly four months before provisional rosters harden for March. His representation is WME Sports, which will handle the standard insurance and logistics discussions if talks advance.
Catching Picture And Austin Wells Status
Fan reaction arrived first. r slash NYYankees circulated the report quickly, swinging from surprise to reminders of Wells’ maternal ties and a practical question about whether a left-handed bat at catcher helps the Dominican roster more than another right-handed option. Talkin Yanks and Talkin Baseball posts on Instagram produced similar threads about depth and usage, with Yainer Diaz, Agustin Ramirez, and Samuel Basallo mentioned most often. Sportskeeda rounded the skepticism into a headline and asked if there were better options. The conversation reflects a pattern. The Dominican has been overloaded almost everywhere. Catcher has required the most evaluation.
Wells’ postseason followed New York’s four-game exit to Toronto. He appeared in seven games and hit .227 slash .261 slash .227 over 22 at-bats with one run, five hits, three RBI, one walk, and six strikeouts. Behind the plate he caught 59 innings with 56 chances, 55 putouts, one assist, no errors, and two successful steals against him.
The 2025 regular season gives the fuller view. Wells played 126 games and hit .219 with 448 plate appearances, recording 88 hits, 22 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs, 71 RBI, five stolen bases, 30 walks, 118 strikeouts, and a .712 OPS while sharing time with Ben Rice and J C Escarra. Defensively he appeared in 122 games and started 112, catching 1,001 innings with 1,040 chances, 1,001 putouts, 36 assists, three errors, five double plays, and a .997 fielding percentage. He allowed five passed balls and threw out 22 of 65 attempted steals, a 25 percent caught stealing rate.
Within the Yankees’ 2025 offense, Wells ranked ninth in hits and walks, sixth in doubles, seventh in home runs, sixth in RBI, and fifth in strikeouts. The ledger includes two notable firsts. On March 27 versus Milwaukee he became the first Yankee to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day and the first catcher in MLB history to do so. On May 6 against San Diego he hit his first career grand slam.
The Dominican depth chart at catcher remains open. History is straightforward. In 2006 and 2009 the position rotated among Ronny Paulino, Alberto Castillo, Miguel Olivo, and Juan Brito. The 2013 champions used Carlos Santana and Francisco Pena. In 2017 Welington Castillo was set to shoulder the work after Gary Sanchez withdrew late in camp. In 2023 it was Francisco Mejia and Sanchez. The rest of those rosters were full of star power. Catcher has been the seam to close.
For 2026, Yainer Diaz stays at the front of the evaluation due to workload and recent defense with Houston. He played 143 games in 2025 and hit .256 with 139 hits, 25 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs, and 70 RBI. He led the American League with 1,064 putouts, posted a .997 fielding percentage, and finished with a 19.5 percent caught stealing rate.
Agustin Ramirez debuted with Miami and logged 136 games, hitting .231 with 124 hits, 33 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs, and 67 RBI. The defensive file is still developing. Seventy three games caught, .983 fielding, 19 passed balls, and an 8.8 percent caught stealing rate across 83 attempts against.
Gary Sanchez returns to LIDOM with Gigantes del Cibao following an injury-shortened year in Baltimore. He hit .231 slash .297 slash .418 in 29 games with five home runs and 24 RBI before landing on the 60-day injured list with a right knee sprain on August 22. Behind the plate he caught 175.1 innings with a .978 fielding percentage and a 5.6 percent caught stealing rate. His winter form will be monitored as the league season opens October 15.
Wells’ candidacy is a roster construction discussion more than a headline. A left-handed bat at catcher, playable defense, and big market workload fit what short tournaments demand. If Diaz is the lead option, Wells profiles as a complementary second catcher with defined innings and late game usage. Ramirez is volume and growth. Samuel Basallo is approaching major league readiness and under review. The Yankees’ exit clears Wells to focus on those talks with Cruz and finalize the necessary medical and insurance steps if he proceeds.
Managerial File And Next Steps
The dugout picture could change before the roster is filed. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported October 11 that Albert Pujols, currently listed as Dominican Republic manager, is the Los Angeles Angels’ first choice for their 2026 managerial opening.
Sources: Alltime great Albert Pujols is the first choice of Angels/Arte Moreno to manage following positive meeting. They still need to work out contract but Pujols is expected to be given choice of coaches if they can finalize the $.
Sam Blum and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported October 10 that the meeting between the sides went well, nothing is official, and a contract is being discussed.
Sources: Albert Pujols met with Angels GM Perry Minasian in St. Louis yesterday, to discuss the Angels' managerial opening.
Though nothing is official, the meeting went well, and a contract is being discussed.
Manny Acta, Luis Rojas and Tony Pena are among the top candidates to replace Pujols if he takes the Angels managerial job, Mirabal reported on his Instagram profile on October 12.
If Pujols takes the managerial job for the Angels he will not be able to manage in the 2026 WBC for the Dominican Republic.
The 2023 WBC manager for the Dominican Republic manager Rodney Linares failed the nation during the last event with not making it out of Pool D in Miami at loanDepot Park and losing 5–2 to Puerto Rico in the final game of pool play.
The Dominican Republic has not won the WBC since they beat Puerto Rico 3–0 in the 2013 championship game under former manager Tony Pena at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif.
A lot will be at test for the Dominican Republic and them being ranked at No. 12 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation rankings that were recently published on September 19 and dropping from No. 7.
With a full showcase of Major League talent the Dominican Republic will have a huge test if they can stay in Miami for the rest of the 2026 WBC in order for them to hoist their second title since the event began in 2006.
Photo: New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, left, and Austin Wells after Game 3 of an American League wild-card baseball playoff series against the Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Matt Tallarini - World Baseball Network
Matthew (Matt) Tallarini is the Founder and Chief Correspondent for the World Baseball Network.
