The World Baseball Classic will take place in 2026, but countries have already started making preparations. The qualifiers will take place in March, so the tournament is quickly approaching. On January 3, Carlos Beltrán was named general manager for Team Puerto Rico.
Beltrán is currently special assistant to David Stearns of the New York Mets. He played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball and is one of the most distinguished Puerto Rican players ever. He is a nine-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover, two-time Silver Slugger and World Series champion.
Beltrán played in four editions of the World Baseball Classic. In 2017, he was named to the All-World Baseball Classic team. He won two silver medals with Puerto Rico (2013 and 2017).
Edwin Rodriguez served as Puerto Rico’s general manager during the Premier12. Beltrán will have the opportunity to continue impacting his nation’s baseball team even after his playing career.
Puerto Rico has never won the World Baseball Classic. Beltrán will now have to put together a team that can triumph over other countries for the first time. There is no shortage of talent around the world, but the belief is that to win the World Baseball Classic, countries will have to go through the powerhouse of Japan.
Japan is one of many countries that will go into the tournament with a chance to win. Appointing Beltrán as general manager is a step toward Puerto Rico’s first World Baseball Classic championship.
