Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo will represent Puerto Rico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking his second time competing in the tournament.
Lugo last pitched for Puerto Rico during the 2017 WBC, helping the team reach the championship game at Dodger Stadium, where they fell 8-0 to the United States. In three starts, Lugo went 2-1 with a 4.20 ERA, tossing 15 innings and allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs, three home runs, five walks, and 12 strikeouts.
Former Major League Baseball player Carlos Baerga confirmed Lugo’s commitment during an interview shared on April 23.
Seth Lugo will once again represent Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, per @BaergaCarlos pic.twitter.com/wp9MQmra5C
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 23, 2025
International baseball researcher Shawn Spradling amplified the news on social media the same day.
Seth Lugo confirmed that he plans on playing for Puerto Rico in the 2026 WBC 🇵🇷
“Absolutely. Can’t wait.”
🎥: @BaergaCarlos pic.twitter.com/Jg26rZ4P4g
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) April 23, 2025
Puerto Rico, the Pool A host nation, will face Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia at the 2026 World Baseball Classic from March 6-11 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
Born in Shreveport, La., the 35-year-old right-hander has pitched 10 Major League seasons, including time with the New York Mets (2016-22) and the San Diego Padres (2023), before signing a three-year, $45 million contract with Kansas City on December 14, 2023.
In 2024, Lugo earned his first All-Star selection and won his first Gold Glove Award. He went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA over 33 starts, logging 206.2 innings while allowing 177 hits, 69 earned runs, 16 home runs, 48 walks, and striking out 181 batters with a 1.809 WHIP.
During 2025 spring training, Lugo posted a 3-0 record with a 5.50 ERA across five starts. He pitched 18 innings, gave up 19 hits and 11 earned runs, and struck out 18.
To start the 2025 regular season, Lugo holds a 1-3 record with a 3.90 ERA and a 0.6 WAR across five starts. He has thrown 30 innings, allowing 26 hits, 13 earned runs, six home runs, 11 walks, and striking out 21 with a 1.233 WHIP.
Over his 10-year MLB career, Lugo owns a 57-43 record and a 3.39 ERA with a 16.5 WAR. He has made 339 appearances and 102 starts, tossing 877.2 innings, recording one complete game, 16 saves, 850 strikeouts, and a 1.155 WHIP.
Puerto Rico reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 WBC, finishing 2-2 in Pool D before falling 5-4 to Mexico at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Puerto Rico’s Evaluation For 2026 WBC
Yadier Molina will manage Puerto Rico for a second consecutive WBC. Carlos Beltran serves as general manager, with Joey Sola as COO and Jose Quiles as president of the Federación de Béisbol Aficionado Puerto Rico (FBPR).
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has again committed to serve as Puerto Rico’s captain.
¡Capitán otra vez! 🇵🇷
Francisco “Paquito” Lindor repetirá como capitán de #LosNuestros para el World Baseball Classic 2026. ¡Con su liderazgo, vamos con todo! pic.twitter.com/Hl97QL9uXV
— Federación de Béisbol 🇵🇷 (@BeisbolPR) April 17, 2025
Other possible returnees include Javier Baez, Willi Castro, Carlos Correa, Nelson Velazquez, Emmanuel Rivera, Heliot Ramos, Christian Vazquez, MJ Melendez, Martin Maldonado, Kike Hernandez, Victor Caratini, and Eddie Rosario.
Pitching depth remains a concern for Puerto Rico despite potential contributions from MLB arms such as Jose Berrios, Edwin Diaz, Alexis Diaz, Fernando Cruz, and Jorge Lopez. Additional options include Jose De Leon, Hector Santiago, Yacksel Rios, Jovani Moran, Nicholas Padilla, and Duane Underwood Jr.
Puerto Rico may also look to prospects rising through the minors, such as Jadiel Sanchez, Abimelec Ortiz, Johnathan Rodriguez, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, Matthew Lugo, and Sabin Ceballos.
Seventeen Puerto Rico-born players currently appear on MLB rosters. The FBPR will continue scouting talent from leagues worldwide—including NPB in Japan, KBO in South Korea, CPBL in Taiwan, Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, and Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente—to round out the 2026 WBC roster.
WBC Overview
Japan has won the most WBC championships with three in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The United States won in 2017 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013 and are the only other countries to win the WBC since the event started 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 World Baseball Classic website with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
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.
Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11 in Pool D.
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.
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 schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! 👀 pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025
The regulations of the 2026 World Baseball Classic with player eligibility are listed here
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 https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/venues 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
Puerto Rico catcher Yadier Molina, left, talks with pitcher Seth Lugo during the second inning against the United States in the final of the World Baseball Classic. in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
