Honduran utility player Maurcio Dubon declined an invitation to play for Nicarauga at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Fernando Rayo of TN8 Nicaragua reported on February 27.
🚨 Mauricio Dubon has withdrawn Nicaragua 🇳🇮 invitation to join the team for World Baseball Classic.
The Astros OF and gold glove winner declined since he expect to play with Honduras someday pic.twitter.com/Jw8Kdec7HM
— Fernando Rayo (@Rayo2Fer) February 27, 2025
Nicaragua and Chinese Taipei have officially qualified for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which will be held next March.
Eligibility rules for MLB, World Baseball Classic Inc. and the World Baseball Softball Confederation are from MLB.com for the WBC.
In a Spanish-language Instagram Story, Dubón addressed reports about his potential WBC participation and thanked Nicaragua’s national team for the offer. He said playing in the tournament has always been his dream, but one he connects with representing Honduras. While acknowledging the challenges, he remains hopeful that he will make it happen one day.
Dubón added that although he appreciated the invitation, he believed it would not be fair to take a roster spot from a Nicaraguan player who had been part of the process from the beginning. He also cited the tournament’s scheduling conflict with spring training, saying he must focus on preparing for the 2026 season. While grateful for the opportunity and support, he reaffirmed that if he ever plays in the WBC, it will be for Honduras.
The 30-year old right-handed slugger was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and has played six seasons in Major League Baseball. He debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, played for the San Francisco Giants from 2019-22, and has spent four seasons with the Houston Astros since being traded on May 14, 2022 for catcher Michael Papierski.
Dubon was drafted in the 26th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox and signed on July 12, 2013. He moved to the United States after being invited by a Christian mission group that saw him play in Honduras. He attended Capital Christian High School in Sacramento, California, as a foreign exchange student.
In six MLB seasons, Dubon has recorded a 5.7 WAR, playing in 531 games with a .261 batting average. He has totaled 404 hits, 78 doubles, four triples, 32 home runs, 167 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, 77 walks, and 252 strikeouts, with a .674 OPS. He won a World Series in 2022 and a Gold Glove Award in 2023.
Last season, Dubon appeared in 137 games and hit .269 with 108 hits, 25 doubles, four home runs, and 47 RBIs. He stole three bases and finished with a .657 OPS.
Dubon played seven different positions in 2024, excluding pitcher and catcher.
He helped the Astros win the American League West Division with an 88-73 record. However, they were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the AL Wild Card Series.
Dubon and Gerald Young, a native of Tela, Honduras, are the only two Honduran-born players to reach the major leagues.
Young played in eight MLB seasons with the Astros from 1987-92, the Colorado Rockies in 1993, and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1994. He posted a 6.0 WAR, playing in 640 games with a lifetime average of .246 with 446 hits, 58 doubles, 19 triples, three home runs, 113 RBI, 155 stolen bases, 227 walks, 223 strikeouts, and a .633 OPS.
Astros manager Joe Espada, now in his second season, will evaluate Dubon’s role and determine how best to utilize him across the seven positions during the course of the 2025 season.
The Houston Astros open the 2025 season against the New York Mets on March 27 at home at 4:10 PM EDT.
