Cleveland Guardians outfielder/first baseman C.J. Kayfus is eligible to play for Brazil in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to a report from Shawn Spradling on X.
Per Spradling, Kayfus has Brazilian heritage from his mother Haika’s side of the family.
Kayfus played three seasons of college baseball at the University of Miami from 2021 to 2023, and the Guardians selected him in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft two summers ago. He made his MLB debut on August 2 against the Minnesota Twins, finishing 0-for-4 at the plate with an RBI groundout.
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Kayfus, the Guardians’ No. 4-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline and a left-handed hitter, batted .283/.367/.526 with 13 home runs and a .893 OPS in 68 games at Triple-A Columbus before his promotion. He joined left-hander Parker Messick as the American League Central club’s two minor league representatives at this July’s 2025 All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
While Brazil’s roster for the 2026 is far from finalized, adding Kayfus to the lineup could help them produce runs against formidable pitching staffs in Pool B like the United States and Mexico. At next year’s WBC, Kayfus would join shortstop Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays as an MLB presence on Brazil’s roster.
Next March, Brazil will make its second appearance at the WBC, having last competed in the international tournament in 2013. They qualified for the 2026 WBC with a 3-1 record this past March in Tucson, Arizona, at the 2025 WBC Qualifiers. Brazil defeated Germany twice and China once to advance to the ultimate stage, which will occur from March 6-11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Aside from the U.S. and Mexico, Brazil will also face off against Italy and Great Britain in Pool B play.
Photo: C.J. Kayfus celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
