In 2026, Brazil will make its second appearance in the World Baseball Classic after defeating Germany 6-4 in the WBC Qualifier final in March in Tucson, Arizona. They went winless in three games in 2013, with losses to Japan, Cuba, and China.
Next March, Brazil will seek its first win in the international tournament as it competes in Pool B in Houston, Texas, against the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Great Britain.
Their captain, third baseman Leonardo Reginatto, reiterated that Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, whose mother Mariana was born in Porto Alegre, will play for Brazil next year. Bichette’s brother Dante, named after former four-time Major League Baseball All-Star Dante Bichette, will also play for Brazil.
Leonardo Reginatto, capitán de Brasil para el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol 2026, habló sobre la posible participación del shortstop All-Star Bo Bichette:
“Él (Bo Bichette) va a estar presente. Ya confirmó… Vamos a dar lo mejor y representar a nuestro país”. pic.twitter.com/r9mcrl6Dv5
— Erick Aguirre (@erick_aguirreh) August 2, 2025
“He [Bichette] will be there,” Reginatto told Erick Aguirre of Deportrece in a video interview on X. “He’s already confirmed. We’re going to give our best and represent our country.”
Reginatto, 35, played parts of 10 seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins organizations from 20-18, but never received a call to MLB. World Baseball Network’s Jeff Duda projects Reginatto will start at third base for Brazil after slashing .289/.351/.528 with 14 home runs and an .879 OPS in 64 games with the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol’s Tigres de Quintana Roo before a July 10 trade to the Olmecas de Tabasco.
Reginatto won a Caribbean Series championship with the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional’s Tiburones de La Guaira in 2024, as the club representing Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic’s Tigres del Licey 3-0 in the title game.
Reginatto spoke with WBN’s Matt Tallarini during the WBC Qualifiers in March and emphasized his hope for the growth of baseball in Brazil.
“I think it’s very important, especially for us,” Reginatto responded when asked about where he sees the development of baseball in his home country. “We are a country that, unfortunately, does not have professional baseball, and hopefully, having more people watching and playing baseball will let us have our league as well, and maybe we can start competing a little better against other countries.”
Photo: Leonardo Reginatto throws to pitcher Jorgan Cavanerio, covering first base, to put out Panama’s Edgard Enrique Munoz during the seventh inning of a Caribbean Series baseball game, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
