Colombia made their first World Baseball Classic in 2017 after going into Panama City and won the qualifying group, taking down Panama in the final.
They were sent to Miami to play the United States, Canada and Dominican Republic and were seen by many as the likely team to be relegated, but they had other plans.
After taking a 2-0 lead over the U.S. before falling 3-2 in 10 innings, they beat Canada in their second game for the their first-ever win in the World Baseball Classic. In their final game of the pool, they played an all-time WBC classic against the Dominican Republic. They had the game-winning run thrown out at the plate in the 9th. If that run scored, Colombia would have done the unthinkable and won the group. Instead they lost 10-3. Even though they did not advance, it firmly made Colombia a name in international baseball.
After being relegated at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Colombia had to re-qualify in a qualifier in Tucson, Arizona. After making quick work of Brazil, China and Germany, they are back and looking to not just be competitive but make serious noise.
Colombia will enter the 2026 World Baseball Classic with likely their most talented team in their history.
Offense will not be the main strength for this team. A couple of the leaders in the position player group include Major League Baseball players Gio Urshela and Gustavo Campero. Urshela has a .598 OPS in 2025 for the Athletics and played for Colombia at WBC qualifiers. He will surely be their starting third baseman. Campero made his MLB debut in 2024 and has been called up again in 2025 after a strong season in Triple-A. He posted an .869 OPS in 26 games with 11 extra-base hits. He should be this team’s starting left fielder.
Royals second baseman Jonathan India committed to play for Colombia at the 2023 WBC before eventually pulling out. He has struggled in 2025 so far but has hit 15 or more homers three times in his career and would be a huge boost to Colombia’s team at short.
Venezuelan-Colombian catcher Elias Díaz is the likely starter behind the plate as of now. He was the main catcher for Colombia in the 2023 WBC and should see that role again. He has an OPS of .676 in 2025 for the Padres but defense is his calling card behind the dish and why he’ll start for this group.
The rest of the position player group will be filled with minor leaguers. The most notable is Seattle Mariners prospect and top 100 MLB prospect, Michael Arroyo. The second baseman for High-A Everett is hitting .259/.415/.452 in 2025 with five homers. He has a 1.063 OPS in May and showcasing why he’s MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 ranked second baseman. He represented Colombia this past March in WBCQ in Tucson. He will start for this team at second base.
Óscar Mercado, the CF from Colombia’s 2023 squad, should be back as the starting CF this time around. He’s hitting .272/.406/.426 for AAA Lehigh Valley with 5 HR. The former big leaguer will be relied on heavily CF with not many options able to play CF on the roster.
The starting right fielder for this team should be former MLB outfielder Harold Ramírez. The 30-year-old is playing in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol in 2025 and has an OPS of .869 with three homers for the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos. He represented Colombia at the 2023 World Baseball Classic and played for them at the WBCQ this past March.
Reynaldo Rodríguez is the likely starting first baseman for Colombia. At 38, he is showing he can still hit. Playing in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol for Oaxaca, .336/.408/.591 with five home runs and 17 extra base hits overall. With Donovan Solano inching towards the end of his career, Rodríguez is the favorite to once again be the starting first baseman as he was in 2023.
Other position players that should be on this team include Guardians prospect Dayán Frías. The 22 year old infielder is hitting .218/371/.389 for Double-A Akron. His ability to play every infield position makes him a very valuable player off the bench. Frías, a switch-hitter, has been much better from the right side in 2025. He’s hitting .310/.444/.414 in 2025. He could see a couple starts as a platoon option.
Jesús Marriaga should see time as an outfielder on this team. The former minor leaguer has played indy ball and winter ball in Colombia in recent years and is playing in Venezuela this season, has shown well for Colombia internationally. He was one of the best hitters in WBC qualifiers with an OPS of 1.538 and a home run, and was on Colombia’s roster at the 2023 WBC.
The pitching staff without question will be the best Colombia has ever had. If they get all their top pitchers, this will blow away any pitching staff Colombia has ever put together.
The unquestioned ace for Colombia is Milwaukee Brewers starter José Quintana. The lefty pitched for Colombia at the 2017 WBC and dominated the United States. He went 5 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit. The performance in Colombia’s WBC debut nearly enabled them to pull off one of the all time shockers. He was unable to pitch in 2023 due to an injury in spring training. He has confirmed he’ll pitch next year for Colombia. In 2025, he has a 2.65 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 31 innings before being placed on the IL with a shoulder injury. It isn’t expected that the injury will have him out that long.
Nabil Crismatt should be slotted in as a starter on this squad. The former big league reliever who is a starting pitcher for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, has a 3.04 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings in 2025. He was Colombia’s No. 1 starter in 2023 and started the only game they won in 2023.
The rest of their rotation is likely to be filled out by their top prospects. One of those names include Braves prospect Didier Fuentes. The 19 year old has been promoted to Double-A. In his last two outings, he has gone 10 innings, allowed three runs and struck out eight. He’s the future ace of the Colombian national team, and this could be his coming out party to a global audience.
Another prospect who should get a look in the rotation is Dodgers prospect Sean Liñan. The 20 year old righty began his season in Single-A. He has 50 strikeouts in 29 2/3 in Class-A ball with a 1.21 ERA. He was promoted to High-A and made a start before making an emergency start in Triple-A. Making the jump from Class-A hitters to Triple-A is a big one, but he showed solidly, allowing two runs in 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.
He’ll be competing for the final rotation spot with a couple pitchers, one of them being Víctor Vargas. The former minor leaguer was on Colombia’s WBCQ roster and has shown really well in the ultra hitter-friendly LMB in 2025 for the Pericos de Puebla. He has a 3.13 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 23 innings of work.
Another potential starter is former MLB pitcher Julio Teherán. He dominated Brazil in Colombia’s WBCQ win. He went six innings and allowed one run. He started Colombia’s first ever win in the 2017 against Canada. He’s pitching for Tijuana in LMB and has a 5.81 ERA in 31 innings. It speaks to the level of talent that he is no longer considered a lock for their rotation.
Some of the bullpen arms to watch include Tayron Guerrero. The Chiba Lotte Marines reliever has a 3.09 ERA in 2025 with 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. He regularly touches 98-100 mph.
Guillermo Zuñiga is the likely closer for Colombia and is having his year of professional career in Triple-A. The flamethrower has a 1.35 ERA in 13 1/3 innings with 14 strikeouts.
Another arm to watch is David Lorduy. The RHP has a 3.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings for Single-A Daytona.
Projected starting lineup
LF Gustavo Campero
2B Michael Arroyo
SS Jonathan India
1B Reynaldo Rodríguez
3B Gio Urshela
DH Jorge Alfaro
RF Harold Ramírez
CF Óscar Mercado
C Elias Díaz
Bench
C Ronaldo Hernández
IF Francisco Acuña
IF Dayán Frías
OF Jesús Marriaga
IF Dilson Herrera
OF Brayan Buelvas
Projected starting rotation
LHP Jose Quintana
RHP Nabil Crismatt
RHP Didier Fuentes
RHP Sean Liñan
Projected bullpen
LHP Reiver Sanmartín
RHP Guillermo Zuñiga
RHP Julio Teherán
RHP Víctor Vargas
LHP Adrián Almeida
RHP Pedro García
RHP David Lorduy
RHP Juan Bello
RHP Luis Patiño
RHP Rayven Antonio
RHP Tayron Guerrero
Photo: Julio Teherán, pitcher for Team Colombia, during the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. (Photo: World Baseball Classic/Facebook)
