Puerto Rico could be getting a tremendous boost from two highly accomplished MLB veterans for the 2026 World Baseball Classic this Spring.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado were added to Puerto Rico’s preliminary WBC roster on Dec. 4, according to Puerto Rican publication Primera Hora.
Springer has not fully committed to playing yet, but Areneado has. It’s essential to note that the final roster will be submitted on Feb. 3, and inclusion on the preliminary roster doesn’t guarantee participation in the World Baseball Classic.
Springer, 36, is a Puerto Rican American, as his mother was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico. Despite his age, he is one of the best options that Puerto Rico has to patrol the outfield. Springer has never played in the WBC, but he does have experience on the biggest stage winning a World Series with the Houston Astros in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Springer was the 2017 World Series MVP, and he also helped the Blue Jays reach game seven of the World Series this past season against the Dodgers. His go-ahead three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners also made the difference in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series this past postseason. He is tied for third all-time with free agent Kyle Schwarber with 23 postseason home runs.
Springer also had the best regular season of any of Puerto Rico’s starting outfield options in the WBC, leading all of them with a bWAR of 4.8. There is no current Puerto Rican outfielder who has accomplished more in their Major League Baseball career than George Springer, and he is clearly the best option if he is willing to commit to the team.
Puerto Rico has made the finals of the WBC twice, with shutout losses to the Dominican Republic (3-0) in 2013 and the United States (8-0) in 2017. Springer is the type of player who could help get them over the hump. In 2023, Puerto Rico lost 5-4 to Mexico in the quarterfinals at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Arenado, 34, is still a very good defender, saving six runs last season for the Cardinals at third base, but his bat has been on a steady decline since he finished third in the National League MVP voting in 2022. Arenado had 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a slash line of .293/.358/.533 in 557 at-bats in 2022. Last season, he put up a pedestrian 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a slash line of .237/.289/.377 in 401 at-bats.
Arenado was born in Newport Beach, California. His mother is Puerto Rican, and his father is Cuban.
On the positive side, he does have a lot of experience in the WBC playing with Team USA and helped them win the WBC title in 2017 against Puerto Rico. Arenado also played for Team USA in 2023, when they lost 3-2 in the finals to Japan at Miami’s loanDepot Park. He will most likely be a Hall of Famer and is one of the best defensive third baseman in MLB history, winning 10 Gold Gloves and six Platinum Gloves. His leadership would definitely be valued by Puerto Rico at the 2026 WBC.
It is also a possibility that he will have to play first base due to a crowded infield. The other option at first base for Puerto Rico would have been Kansas City Royals rookie Jac Caglianone, but he is expected to play for Italy since they contacted him first. Emmanuel Rivera is also an option off the bench for Puerto Rico, though Arenado is still a much better player than him at this point. There could have been an argument made that Dodgers utilityman Kike Hernandez would have been an upgrade over Arenado, but he will miss the WBC after undergoing elbow surgery last month.
Free agent Willi Castro, who has played seven MLB seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Cubs, could also be in the infield mix.
Tigers outfielder Riley Greene is also on their preliminary roster, according to Primera Hora reporter Jorge Figueroa Loza on Dec 5. Other notable news reported by Figueroa Loza was that free agent pitcher Marcus Stroman will be left off the roster and that New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos is still undecided on his status.
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Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, Tigers utilityman Javier Baez, Astros infielder Carlos Correa, and San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos are among notable position players on the roster. Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo and Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios are the most accomplished pitchers on their staff.
The outfield could be completed with commitments from Greene and Springer, with Ramos already being committed to play in the WBC. Springer could also be the designated hitter, due to various injuries he suffered last season.
Lindor is the Captain of Puerto Rico and he will anchor their infield at shortstop. Baez, Correa, Arenado, and Castro will all be in the mix with the possibility of one of them being the designated hitter.
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Puerto Rico will bring a very formidable team to the WBC, and they will have the privilege of hosting Pool A in San Juan at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Pool A will be filled by Cuba, Canada, Colombia, and Panama. The games will take place from March 5-11 in San Juan, with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals at loanDepot Park.
Photo: George Springer celebrates his three run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning in Game 7 of baseball’s American League Championship Series, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
