Derek Jeter won’t be playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and his namesake who used to play for the Boston Red Sox won’t be, either.
At least not for Nicaragua.
Jeter Downs, who appeared in 20 Major League Baseball games with the Boston Red Sox in 2022 and the Washington Nationals in 2023, told Nicaragua he isn’t interested in playing for the Central American country’s entry at next year’s WBC, according to a report from Fernando Rayo, a sports journalist with Nicaragua’s Canal TN8.
He will be playing for Colombia instead.
https://x.com/rayo2fer/status/1963602641142919506
Since leaving North America for Japan midway through the 2024 season, Downs has appeared in 57 NPB games with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, batting .232 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 168 at-bats.
A middle infielder with the ability to play third base, Downs will likely be competing with Athletics infielder Gio Urshela, Los Angeles Angels utilityman Luis Rengifo, and Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India for a starting role with Colombia in 2026. All three have significant MLB experience and are significantly better at the plate, though Downs could make the team in a bench player role.
He did not play for Colombia at the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers.
Colombia is assigned to Pool A at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they will play Puerto Rico on March 6, Canada on March 7, Cuba on March 8, and Panama on March 9.
Photo: Jeter Downs, center, slides across home plate to score on a double by teammate Joey Meneses to take the lead during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park, Aug. 17, 2023, in Washington. Downs was designated for assignment Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, one month after the New York Yankees claimed the 25-year-old shortstop off waivers from the Nationals. The Yankees needed the roster spot after claiming infielder/outfielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the New York Mets. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
