New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto announced on May 14 in Washington Heights that he will play for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic next March.
Juan Soto announced that he will play for Team Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/UueQdOtvJm
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 14, 2025
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will feature 20 nations, with the Dominican Republic competing in Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6–11, alongside Venezuela, Nicaragua, Israel, and the Netherlands.
Raquel Infante, a sports reporter for Canal 29 in the Dominican Republic, also confirmed Soto’s commitment to play for the national team on May 14.
Soto became the official ambassador of Banreservas on May 14 in a press conference in Washington Heights at their New York branch representatives office, where he announced that he will be playing for the national team for the 2026 WBC, Social Media Influencer, Ana Luisa Arias, from the Dominican Republic reported.
Alianza de Titanes! 🇩🇴🗽
Juan Soto se convierte en embajador oficial del @BanreservasRD pic.twitter.com/tit0PMHPkv
— Ana Luisa Arias (@AnaLuisaArias) May 14, 2025
Mike Rodriguez, a Chicago native of Dominican heritage, was in attendance for the signing ceremony, where Banreservas president Samuel Pereyra Rojas presented Soto with his ambassador contract.
Oficialmente Juan Soto es embajador del banco de todos los dominicanos @BanreservasRD @spereyrarojas @LuisMinoso @JuanSoto25_ pic.twitter.com/XsYyo3m0wz
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) May 14, 2025
Rodriguez asked Soto, in Spanish with English subtitles, what the Banreservas ambassadorship meant to him and his family—especially given the number of Dominican players currently in the majors.
Después de ver los comentarios de muchos sobre la química de Soto con los #Mets , le pregunté sobre como lo han tratado en los Mets de New York 🗽 pic.twitter.com/hS8ZyPSrEe
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) May 14, 2025
Soto, in his first year in Flushing, has a 1.7 WAR, while playing in 43 games, hitting .255/.380/.465 with 192 plate appearances, cracking 40 hits, nine doubles, eight home runs, 20 RBI, three stolen bases, 33 walks, and 30 strikeouts, entering Wednesday night.
Soto had the day off on Wednesday, May 14 in their 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at home.
The (28-16) New York Mets will travel crosstown to their three game series and go up against the (25-18) New York Yankees in the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium on May 14 at 7:05 p.m. EDT in Soto’s first game back in the Bronx prior to signing with the Orange and Blue this past offseason. Second-year manager Carlos Mendoza will have starter Tylor Megill go up against New York Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodon, under eight-year manager Aaron Boone.
The four-time All-Star and 2019 World Series champion, signed a $765 million contract for 15 years on December 11 with the Mets, which included no money deferred and a $75 million signing bonus.
Soto will receive in his salaries in certain years with the Mets: $46,875,000 each in 2025 and 2026, $42.5 million in 2027, $46,875,000 apiece in 2028 and 2029, and $46 million in each of the final 10 seasons.
The list below was posted before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for a 14-year, $500 million extension contract on April 9, 2025. Guerrero Jr.’s $325 million of the contract will be paid as signing bonuses each season, includes no deferred money, and does not contain any opt-outs, making him the second highest-paid player in the history of Major League Baseball.
Guerrero Jr. will also earn on average $35,714,285 per year, with an average per game/event of $220,458.
Soto’s contract is the highest in Major League Baseball history followed by: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: 10 years, $700 million (2024–33), Aaron Judge, Yankees: 9 years, $360 million (2023–31), Bryce Harper, Phillies: 13 years, $330 million (2019–31), (tie) Corey Seager, Rangers: 10 years, $325 million (2022–31), Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers: 12 years, $325 million, Gerrit Cole, Yankees: 9 years, $324 million (2020–28), (tie) Manny Machado, Padres: 10 years, $300 million (2019–28), Trea Turner, Phillies: 11 years, $300 million (2023–33), and Xander Bogaerts, Padres: 11 years, $280 million (2023–33).
In the history of Major League Baseball, the top 10 free-agent contracts by average annual value were Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: $70 million (2024-33), Juan Soto, Mets: $51 million (2025-39), (tie) Max Scherzer, Mets: $43,333,333 (2022-24), Justin Verlander, Mets: $43,333,333 (2023-24), Aaron Judge, Yankees: $40 million (2023-31), Jacob deGrom, Rangers: $37 million (2023-27), Blake Snell, Dodgers: $36.4 million (2025-29), Gerrit Cole, Yankees: $36 million (2020-28), (tied) Stephen Strasburg, Nationals: $35 million (2020-26) and Anthony Rendon, Angels: $35 million (2020-26).
MLB: Juan Soto (15 years, $765 million), NBA: Jayson Tatum (5 years, $315 million), NHL: Igor Shesterkin (8 years, $92 million), and NFL: Dak Prescott (4 years, $240 million) were the top highest paid signings across all four professional American sports leagues in 2024.
The top professional athlete signings in the world with their length of contract, contract value, average per year in U.S. Dollars and average per game and event are: Shohei Ohtani with Los Angeles Dodgers 10 years (2024–2033) $700,000,000 – $70,000,000 – 432,099, Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona, 4 years (2017–2021) $674,000,000 – $168,500,000 – $4,434,210, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, 2.5 years (2023–2025) $536,336,818 – $214,534,727 – $7,151,158, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, 10 years (2020–2031) $450,000,000 – $45,000,000 – $2,465,686, Karim Benzema, Al-Ittihad, 2 years (2023–2025) $447,302,608 – $223,651,304 – $7,455,04, Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, 12 years (2019–2030)- $426,500,000 – $35,541,667 – $219,393, Canelo Álvarez, DAZN, 5 years (2018–2023) $365,000,000 – $73,000,000 – $33,181,818, Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers, 12 years (2021–2032) $365,000,000 – $30,416,667 – $187,757, and Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 9 years (2023–2031) $360,000,000 – $40,000,000 – $246,913.
During his All-Star season with the Yankees, Soto ended the year fourth in the MLB with 41 home runs, tied for sixth in RBI with 109, second in walks with 129, 16th in average at .288, third in OPS at .988, and 17th in hits with 166, while playing in 157 games with 713 plate appearances.
Soto after one year in the Bronx with the New York Yankees helped the franchise win their 41st American League Pennant and failed to win the Fall Classic losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
In his 49 at-bats this past postseason with the Yankees, Soto hit .327, scoring 12 runs, rocking 16 hits, three doubles, four home runs, nine RBI, 14 walks, two intentional walks, and nine strikeouts.
After the Yankees lost in the World Series, Soto elected free agency on October 31 prior to him signing with the Orange and Blue.
Soto in his eight seasons in Major League Baseball has played in the nations’ capital from 2018-22 before he was traded to the San Diego Padres with first baseman Josh Bell in exchange for first baseman Luke Voit, left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, shortstop C.J. Abrams, outfielder Robert Hassell III, outfielder James Wood and right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana.
He played on the West Coast for two seasons before he was traded to the New York Yankees with center fielder Trent Grisham in exchange for right-handed pitcher Michael King, catcher Kyle Higashioka, right-handed pitcher Randy Vásquez, right-handed pitcher Jhony Brito and right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe heading to Southern California on December 7, 2023.
In Soto’s eight seasons in the majors, he has played in 979 games, posting a 38.1 WAR with 4,280 plate appearances, hitting .283, collecting 974 hits, 188 doubles, 15 triples, 209 home runs, 612 RBI, 60 stolen bases, 802 walks, 726 strikeouts, and a .948 OPS.
The left-handed slugger from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic began his journey in professional baseball when he signed with the Washington Nationals during the international signing period for a $1.5 million signing bonus on July 2, 2015, which was a minor league contract.
He became a shining star during his first professional season in 2016, playing in the Washington organization and won the Baseball America Rookie All-Star Award, won the Florida Complex League MVP Award, and the FCL Postseason Award at the Gulf Coast League level, and won the MiLB.com Organization All-Star Award.
Soto played in 51 games in the 2016 season between the GCL and Class-A Short Season, the Auburn Doubledays in the New-York Penn League, hitting .368 with 207 plate appearances, smacking 70 hits, 14 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 32 RBI, swiping five bases, 17 walks, 29 strikeouts, and a .973 OPS.
Soto rose above the rankings in three seasons in the minors and was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Washington in May of 2018 and made his first start against the San Diego Padres at home on May 21 and hit a three-run home run over the left-center field wall in his first MLB at-bat on the first pitch he saw against left-handed starting pitcher Robbie Erlin.
Soto also hit a home run against the New York Yankees on May 15, 2018 off the bench replacing Matt Adams in left field, five days before his first MLB start against relief pitcher Chad Green that landed in the upper deck in right center field at Nationals Park.
Two of these moments to begin Soto’s big league career have surged him into one of the prolific hitters of this decade alongside what he can bring to the lineup of the Mets, one through nine.
Soto Spotlight In 2026 WBC
Soto hit a solo home run in the second deck at loanDepot Park on March 13, 2023 against Nicaragua.
JUAN SOTO! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/PuZUqlXFjA
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
He also crushed a solo home run into the green batters eye in center field at loanDepot Park against Puerto Rico on March 15, 2003.
Soto finished the 2023 WBC with their final game of Pool D losing 5-2 to Puerto Rico with playing in four games with a slash line of .400/.500/1.000 in 15 at-bats, scoring six runs, knocking six hits, three doubles, three RBIs, three walks, and striking out three times under former manager Rodney Linares.
Soto Permission To Play In Future LIDOM Seasons From New York Mets
Soto has received permission from the Mets to play 10 games with the Tigres del Licey for any LIDOM season under his contract.
2026 WBC Preview
Japan leads all nations with three WBC titles (2006, 2009, 2023). The Dominican Republic won it all in 2013, and Team USA claimed the title in 2017. The event is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB, MLBPA, and WBCI, and is staged during spring training.
The Federación Dominicana de Béisbol under president Juan Nunez, manager Albert Pujols, and general manager Nelson Cruz will evaluate on their radar for their offense in the 2026 event to build their roster throughout the remainder of the 2025 season with the likes of Ketel Marte, Fernando Tatis Jr., Geraldo Perdomo, Mark Vientos, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jasson Dominguez, Rafael Devers, Elly De La Cruz, Jeremy Pena, Manny Machado, Willy Adames, Yainer Diaz, Oneil Cruz, Julio Rodriguez, Agustin Ramirez, Jose Ramirez, Austin Wells, and Gary Sanchez that are on their radar.
With notable returners of the pitching staff from the starters and relief pitching, the Dominican Republic could have a similar roster even with newcomers on their roster.
Sandy Alcantara, Luis Castillo, Reynaldo Lopez, Cristian Javier, Freddy Peralta, Luis Gil, Luis Severino, Framber Valdez, Eury Perez, Brayan Bello, Wandy Peralta, Rafael Montero, Camilo Doval, Yimi Garcia, Emmanuel Clase, Jose Soriano, Felix Bautista, Jhoan Duran, and Bryan Abreu are the top candidates to be on roster for the Dominican Republic’s pitching staff in the 2026 WBC.
Dominican Republic 2026 WBC Coaching Staff
Manager – Albert Pujols
Bench Coach – Placido Polanco
Assistant Manager – Gilbert Gomez
Hitting Coach – Fernando Tatis Sr.
Assistant Hitting Coach – Jorge Mejia
Hitting Coordinator – Rene Rojas
First Base Coach – Hector Borg
Third Base Coach – Tony Diaz
Pitching Coach – Wellington Cepeda
Assistant Pitching Coach – Joel Peralta
Bullpen Coach – Jose Cano
Hall of Famers Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., Juan Marichal, and Pedro Martinez are on the Dominican Republic Operations Staff along with former MLB player Edwin Encarnacion to help build the roster for the nation prior to them taking the field in Miami on March 6.
WBC Overview
Japan has won the most World Baseball Classic titles with three championships in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The United States won in 2017, and the Dominican Republic won in 2013. No other nation has claimed the WBC title since the tournament’s inception in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and is jointly organized by Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, and the WBCI during spring training.
The full schedule, venues, and pool matchups are available here. Game start times have not yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Chinese Taipei will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner at loanDepot Park on March 14.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups and venue details are posted at MLB.com’s official WBC site, although game start times have not yet been announced.
The schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! 👀 pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025
WBSC Rankings Outline
Japan is ranked at No. 1 in the World Baseball Rankings and will play in their sixth WBC. Chinese Taipei hails at No. 2. and will play in their sixth event. Venezuela at No. 3 and will appear for the sixth time at the WBC. Mexico is at No. 4 and will play in their sixth WBC. The United States is at No. 5 and will appear for the sixth time in the WBC. South Korea is labeled at No. 6 and will play in their sixth WBC.
The Netherlands at No. 7 will play in the WBC for the sixth time. Panama at No. 8 will play at the event for the fourth time. Puerto Rico crawling in at No. 9 will appear for the sixth time. Cuba is at No. 10 and will appear in the sixth WBC. The Dominican Republic at No. 11 will play in their sixth event. Australia pipelines at No. 12 and will play for the sixth time at the WBC.
Colombia at No. 13 and will appear in their third WBC. Italy is at No. 14 and will play in their sixth event The Czech Republic at No. 15 will appear in their second WBC. Nicaragua is ranked at No. 16 and will appear in the WBC for the second-time.
Great Britain at No. 18 will play for the second time at the WBC. Israel is ranked at No. 19 and will play in their third WBC. Canada is at No. 22 and will play in their sixth event. Brazil is ranked at No. 23 and will play in their second WBC.
In the 2023 WBC, Nicaragua, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic played in their first event. Israel and Colombia have played in three consecutive WBC events dating back to 2017. Brazil is appearing in the WBC for the first time since 2013. Panama has played in the WBC previously in 2006, 2009 and 2023, prior to 2026.
China will not be participating for the first time in the WBC since they did not qualify in the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., while going 0-3. They have been in the WBC since 2006, in the event’s first year.
The teams that are playing in the 2026 WBC and are part of the WBSC Americas sector are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. In the WBSC Europe sector, Italy, Israel, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are participating in the 2026 event.
Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea are in the WBSC Asia sector and Australia is in the WBSC Oceania sector.
All the other listed remaining countries have played in the WBC since its first year in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on the official World Baseball Classic site with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
If teams end up with the same record in pool play the Total Quality Balance run differential rule will be in effect for runs for and runs against alongside the head-to-head record.
2026 WBC Pool Matchups With Confirmed Dates
Pool A – Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Canada & Cuba
Venue – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan, Puerto Rico
March 6
Game 1 – Cuba vs. Panama
Game 2 – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia
March 7
Game 3 – Colombia vs. Canada
Game 4 – Panama vs. Puerto Rico
March 8
Game 5 – Colombia vs. Cuba
Game 6 – Panama vs. Canada
March 9
Game 7 – Colombia vs. Panama
Game 8 – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico
March 10
Game 9 – Canada vs. Puerto Rico
March 11
Game 10 – Canada vs. Cuba
Pool B – United States, Mexico, Brazil, Great Britain & Italy
Venue – Daikin Park – Houston, Texas
March 6
Game 1 – Mexico vs. Great Britain
Game 2 – United States vs. Brazil
March 7
Game 3 – Brazil vs. Italy
Game 4 – Great Britain vs. United States
March 8
Game 5 – Great Britain vs. Italy
Game 6 – Brazil vs. Mexico
March 9
Game 7 – Brazil vs. Great Britain
Game 8 – Mexico vs. United States
March 10
Game 9 – Italy vs. United States
March 11
Game 10 – Italy vs. Mexico
Pool C – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, South Korea & Czech Republic
Venue – Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan
March 5
Game 1 – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
Game 2 – Czechia vs. South Korea
March 6
Game 3 – Australia vs. Czechia
Game 4 – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
March 7
Game 5 – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
Game 6 – South Korea vs. Japan
March 8
Game 7 – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea
Game 8 – Australia vs. Japan
March 9
Game 9 – South Korea vs. Australia
March 10
Game 10 – Czechia vs. Japan
Pool D – Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel & Nicaragua
Venue – loanDepot Park – Miami, Fla.
March 6
Game 1 – Netherlands vs. Venezuela
Game 2 – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
March 7
Game 3 – Nicaragua vs. Netherlands
Game 4 – Israel vs. Venezuela
March 8
Game 5 – Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic
Game 6 – Nicaragua vs. Israel
March 9
Game 7 – Dominican Republic vs. Israel
Game 8 – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua
March 10
Game 9 – Israel vs. Netherlands
March 11
Game 10 – Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela
(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
