In an interview this weekend with La UCA Deportes, Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter George Springer confirmed his interest in representing Puerto Rico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
When asked about the possibility, Springer said, “I think for me, I’m obviously interested. That’s where my mom is from. That’s where our family is from. I have a lot to think about still, and I’ll wait until the end of the year to make a decision.”
There’s no doubt Springer would be a major addition to Puerto Rico’s lineup. After back-to-back underwhelming seasons in 2023 and 2024, the 35-year-old has bounced back in a big way in 2025. His .904 OPS ranks as the third best of his career—behind only his 2019 (.974 with Houston) and 2021 (.907 with Toronto) campaigns. Coming into today, his 149 OPS+ nearly mirrors his 2019 mark of 150. Meanwhile, his 154 wRC+ is just a tick below his career high of 155 from that same 2019 season.
Springer’s .381 on-base percentage is the second best of his career and his 11.8% walk rate is tied for the second highest of his career. He’s also launched 22 home runs so far, playing a central role in pushing the Toronto Blue Jays to first place in the AL East.
Though he has previously expressed interest in playing for Puerto Rico, it has yet to materialize. If he does join the roster in 2026, it would be a massive boost. Puerto Rico is already expected to feature a strong lineup including Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Riley Greene, Willi Castro, Javier Báez, and Heliot Ramos—but Springer would provide the elite middle-of-the-order bat the team has lacked in past WBC editions to protect the likes of Francisco Lindor.
Entering Sunday, Springer currently ranks as the sixth-best hitter in MLB by wRC+ at 154. He’s also 11th in slugging percentage and 5th in weighted on-base average (wOBA), underscoring just how impactful his resurgence has been.
Springer’s advanced hitting metrics also back up his strong season. His average exit velocity of 89.8 mph ties for the second best of his career, just behind the 89.9 mph he posted in 2015. His 14.9% barrel rate is second only to his 2021 rate of 15.3%, and every other season in his career has been 12.3% or lower. His 44.9% hard-hit rate is a new career high.
When many thought Springer was entering a decline, he has turned back the clock and re-established himself as one of the top hitters in baseball. If he commits to Puerto Rico, he would instantly become their most complete hitter—by a wide margin—and raise the team’s offensive ceiling significantly.
Defensively, however, Springer has taken a step back. His -6 Outs Above Average (OAA) in the outfield is the worst mark of his career, likely signaling a designated hitter role for him on the Puerto Rican roster.
Springer is eligible to play for Puerto Rico, Panama, and the United States in the World Baseball Classic. Of all players eligible for multiple nations, his decision could have the biggest tournament-wide impact. Playing for Panama would dramatically raise that country’s competitiveness, while suiting up for Puerto Rico could elevate them from a quarterfinal contender to a team with legitimate championship aspirations.
Puerto Rico has reached the WBC finals twice—in 2013 (falling to the Dominican Republic) and in 2017 (losing to the United States)—but has yet to win the title. In 2026, they’ll look to finally break through.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins for Puerto Rico on March 6 at home in San Juan, where they’ll face Colombia at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. They follow with games against Panama (March 7), Cuba (March 9), and Canada (March 10). With Springer potentially in the lineup, this could be Puerto Rico’s strongest roster ever.
Historically, Puerto Rico boasts a 14-2 record in WBC first-round play—the best among all nations. They are one of just four teams (along with the United States, Japan, and Cuba) to have never been eliminated in the first round. As they enter a stacked group in 2026, expectations will be sky-high.
