Francisco Lindor announced on his Instagram on April 16 that he will serve as captain of Puerto Rico’s national team for the second straight World Baseball Classic in 2026. The New York Mets shortstop and four-time All-Star previously held the role in 2023.
Another WBC Team Captain has been named! 🇵🇷@jonmorosi previews Francisco Lindor's commitment to next year's competition as the anticipation continues to build. pic.twitter.com/KoS1INfPtj
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 17, 2025
The 31-year-old switch hitter from Caguas, Puerto Rico represented the island at the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and 2023.
Lindor helped lead Puerto Rico to the WBC championship game in 2017, where they fell 8-0 to the United States at Dodger Stadium. In seven games that year, he hit .370/.419/.630 with 10 hits, two home runs, and four RBI across 27 at-bats, earning a spot on the All-World Baseball Classic Team.
At the 2023 tournament, Lindor batted .450 across five games, helping Puerto Rico reach the quarterfinals before falling 5-4 to Mexico at loanDepot Park in Miami. He finished the 2023 WBC with a .450/.500/.550 slash line, tallying nine hits, five RBI, and a triple in 20 at-bats.
Lindor was traded to the Mets from Cleveland on January 21, 2021, in a deal that also sent Carlos Carrasco to New York. He spent six seasons with Cleveland from 2015 to 2020, helping the club reach the World Series in 2016, where they lost in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.
The eighth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft played 777 games for Cleveland and compiled a 28.3 WAR. He batted .285 over 3,510 plate appearances with 896 hits, 191 doubles, 15 triples, 138 home runs, 411 RBI, 99 stolen bases, 284 walks, 496 strikeouts, and a .833 OPS.
Since joining the Mets, Lindor has appeared in 615 games and recorded a 21.6 WAR. He’s hit .258 with 612 hits, 117 doubles, 11 triples, 111 home runs, 365 RBI, 88 stolen bases, 245 walks, 506 strikeouts, and a .793 OPS over 2,684 plate appearances.
Across 11 Major League seasons, Lindor has earned two Gold Glove Awards (2016 and 2019) and four Silver Slugger Awards (2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024). He has played in 1,392 games, compiling a 49.9 WAR with a .274 lifetime average. His career totals include 1,508 hits, 308 doubles, 26 triples, 249 home runs, 776 RBI, 187 stolen bases, 529 walks, 1,002 strikeouts, and an .816 OPS across 6,194 plate appearances.
The Mets (11-7) will open a four-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals (9-9) on April 17 at 7:10 p.m. EDT at Citi Field.
Puerto Rico’s Evaluation for the 2026 WBC
Puerto Rico will compete in Pool A at the 2026 World Baseball Classic alongside Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia. All Pool A games will be played from March 6-11 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
José Quiles is president of the Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico. The FBPR acknowledged Lindor’s commitment to captain the national team for a second consecutive WBC.
https://x.com/beisbolpr/status/1912684343400468953?s=46&t=iqpCiRBt6XoPK58Lx566JQ
Carlos Beltrán will be the general manager, and Joey Solá will serve as chief operating officer for Puerto Rico.
Yadier Molina was announced as manager for Puerto Rico on January 3 and will return for his second WBC in charge. Molina managed the national team in 2023 and had bench coach Alex Cintron, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, assistant hitting coach Juan Gonzalez, pitching coach Ricky Bones, first base coach Jose Molina, third base coach Luis Rivera, and bullpen coach Jose Rosado on his staff.
Molina will evaluate his offensive options during the 2025 regular season as the team prepares for Pool A competition.
Javier Báez, Willi Castro, Carlos Correa, Nelson Velázquez, Emmanuel Rivera, Heliot Ramos, Christian Vázquez, MJ Melendez, Martín Maldonado, Victor Caratini, and Eddie Rosario are among the top candidates who could represent Puerto Rico at the 2026 WBC and remain on the radar of Molina, Beltrán, and Quiles.
There are currently 17 players from Puerto Rico on active Major League rosters during this part of the 2025 season.
The FBPR will also scout talent from other professional circuits throughout 2025, including Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, the Korean Baseball Organization, the CPBL in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the 2025-26 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico. Additional evaluation will take place across winter leagues in the Caribbean and Australia as the federation builds a strong roster for the 2026 WBC.
Puerto Rico Prepares For 2026 WBC In San Juan
Puerto Rico will compete in Pool A of the 2026 WBC alongside Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia. All Pool A games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan from March 6-11.
Carlos Beltrán will serve as general manager, with Joey Solá as chief operating officer. Yadier Molina returns as manager after leading Puerto Rico during the 2023 WBC. The Federación de Béisbol de Puerto Rico, led by president José Quiles, publicly praised Lindor for his renewed commitment as team captain.
Molina and his staff will evaluate Puerto Rico’s offensive depth during the 2025 regular season. Potential key contributors include Javier Báez, Carlos Correa, Eddie Rosario, MJ Melendez, Nelson Velázquez, Willi Castro, Emmanuel Rivera, Heliot Ramos, Christian Vázquez, Martín Maldonado, and Victor Caratini.
As of April 2025, 17 Puerto Rican-born players are on MLB active rosters.
To round out the roster, the FBPR will scout other professional leagues including Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, the KBO in South Korea, the CPBL in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico, as well as other winter leagues across the Caribbean and Australia.
WBC Overview
Japan has won the most WBC championships with three in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The United States won in 2017 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013 and are the only other countries to win the WBC since the event started in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on MLB’s official World Baseball Classic website with the confirmed dates. Game start times have yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11 in Pool D.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Chinese Taipei will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
The schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! 👀 pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025
WBSC Rankings Outline
Japan is ranked at No. 1 in the World Baseball Rankings and will play in their sixth WBC. Chinese Taipei hails at No. 2. and will play in their sixth event. Venezuela at No. 3 and will appear for the sixth time at the WBC. Mexico is at No. 4 and will play in their sixth WBC. The United States is at No. 5 and will appear for the sixth time in the WBC. South Korea is labeled at No. 6 and will play in their sixth WBC.
The Netherlands at No. 7 will play in the WBC for the sixth time. Panama at No. 8 will play at the event for the fourth time. Puerto Rico crawling in at No. 9 will appear for the sixth time. Cuba is at No. 10 and will appear in the sixth WBC. The Dominican Republic at No. 11 will play in their sixth event. Australia pipelines at No. 12 and will play for the sixth time at the WBC.
Colombia at No. 13 and will appear in their third WBC. Italy is at No. 14 and will play in their sixth event The Czech Republic at No. 15 will appear in their second WBC. Nicaragua is ranked at No. 16 and will appear in the WBC for the second-time.
Great Britain at No. 18 will play for the second time at the WBC. Israel is ranked at No. 19 and will play in their third WBC. Canada is at No. 22 and will play in their sixth event. Brazil is ranked at No. 23 and will play in their second WBC.
In the 2023 WBC, Nicaragua, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic played in their first event. Israel and Colombia have played in three consecutive WBC events dating back to 2017. Brazil is appearing in the WBC for the first time since 2013. Panama has played in the WBC previously in 2006, 2009 and 2023, prior to 2026.
China will not be participating for the first time in the WBC since they did not qualify in the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., while going 0-3. They have been in the WBC since 2006, in the event’s first year.
The teams that are playing in the 2026 WBC and are part of the WBSC Americas sector are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. In the WBSC Europe sector, Italy, Israel, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are participating in the 2026 event.
Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea are in the WBSC Asia sector and Australia is in the WBSC Oceania sector.
All the other listed remaining countries have played in the WBC since its first year in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on World Baseball Classic with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
If teams end up with the same record in pool play the Total Quality Balance run differential rule will be in effect for runs for and runs against alongside the head-to-head record.
2026 WBC Pool Matchups With Confirmed Dates
Pool A – Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Canada & Cuba
Venue – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan, Puerto Rico
March 6
Game 1 – Cuba vs. Panama
Game 2 – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia
March 7
Game 3 – Colombia vs. Canada
Game 4 – Panama vs. Puerto Rico
March 8
Game 5 – Colombia vs. Cuba
Game 6 – Panama vs. Canada
March 9
Game 7 – Colombia vs. Panama
Game 8 – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico
March 10
Game 9 – Canada vs. Puerto Rico
March 11
Game 10 – Canada vs. Cuba
Pool B – United States, Mexico, Brazil, Great Britain & Italy
Venue – Daikin Park – Houston, Texas
March 6
Game 1 – Mexico vs. Great Britain
Game 2 – United States vs. Brazil
March 7
Game 3 – Brazil vs. Italy
Game 4 – Great Britain vs. United States
March 8
Game 5 – Great Britain vs. Italy
Game 6 – Brazil vs. Mexico
March 9
Game 7 – Brazil vs. Great Britain
Game 8 – Mexico vs. United States
March 10
Game 9 – Italy vs. United States
March 11
Game 10 – Italy vs. Mexico
Pool C – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, South Korea & Czech Republic
Venue – Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan
March 5
Game 1 – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
Game 2 – Czechia vs. South Korea
March 6
Game 3 – Australia vs. Czechia
Game 4 – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
March 7
Game 5 – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
Game 6 – South Korea vs. Japan
March 8
Game 7 – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea
Game 8 – Australia vs. Japan
March 9
Game 9 – South Korea vs. Australia
March 10
Game 10 – Czechia vs. Japan
Pool D – Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel & Nicaragua
Venue – loanDepot Park – Miami, Fla.
March 6
Game 1 – Netherlands vs. Venezuela
Game 2 – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
March 7
Game 3 – Nicaragua vs. Netherlands
Game 4 – Israel vs. Venezuela
March 8
Game 5 – Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic
Game 6 – Nicaragua vs. Israel
March 9
Game 7 – Dominican Republic vs. Israel
Game 8 – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua
March 10
Game 9 – Israel vs. Netherlands
March 11
Game 10 – Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela
