According to Bambino Sedano of El Jonronero on June 5, Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen is eligible to play for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic this March due to his mother’s bloodline.
Michael Lorenzen es de madre mexicana, sería gran opción para la rotación en el Clásico Mundial. https://t.co/8bA3C6kkqH
— Bambino Sedano (@bambino_sedano) June 5, 2025
Mexico lost 6-5 and earned the bronze medal in the 2023 WBC semifinals against Japan on Munetaka Murakami’s game-winning double to left-center in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Mexico will have manager Benji Gil lead the nation for the second consecutive WBC and will face Italy, Great Britain, Brazil, and the United States from March 6-11 in Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Lorenzen was named an All-Star in 2023 and threw a no-hitter on August 9 that year.
The 33-year-old from Anaheim, Calif., has played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds from 2015-21, the Los Angeles Angels in 2022, the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, and the Texas Rangers in 2024, before being traded to Kansas City on July 29, 2024, in exchange for Walter Pennington.
This season with the Royals, Lorenzen has a 3-6 record with a 5.12 ERA in 12 starts, throwing 65 innings, allowing 75 hits, 37 earned runs, 12 home runs, 20 walks, 54 strikeouts, and a 1.462 WHIP.
Last season, between the Rangers and Royals, Lorenzen went 7-6 with a 3.31 ERA across 26 appearances and 24 starts, tossing 130.1 innings, allowing 101 hits, 48 earned runs, 17 home runs, 60 walks, 97 strikeouts, and a 1.235 WHIP.
Over his 11-year Major League career, Lorenzen holds a 50-50 record with a 4.07 ERA in 380 appearances and 105 starts. He has one complete game and one shutout, along with 15 saves. In 919.1 innings pitched, he has allowed 847 hits, 416 earned runs, 112 home runs, 368 walks, and struck out 753 batters with a 1.322 WHIP.
Lorenzen remains in the starting rotation under Royals manager Matt Quatraro alongside Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, Cole Ragans, and Noah Cameron.
Mexico Roster Build Up For 2026 WBC
Federación Mexicana de Béisbol officials will have to scout among other players to be with the Mexico national team during the 2025 seasons across other professional leagues in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korean Baseball Organization, the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and the 2025-26 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico regular season outside the other winter leagues in the Caribbean and Australia in order to build a strong roster for Pool B during the 2026 WBC.
FEMEBE president Enrique Mayorga, manager Benji Gil, general manager Rodrigo Lopez, sports manager Jorge Campillo, and operations manager Mariana Patraca will have to evaluate during the course of the 2025 season on who they will bring on their roster for the 2026 WBC.
All stats for the LMB season, in the leagues 100th year of operation can be found here.
Leif Skodnick of World Baseball Network made a case for other pitchers in their starting rotation, bullpen and position players that can be a possibility for Mexico’s roster.
Mexico will have a similar outlook with their offense to bring back for the 2026 WBC and other additions with the likes of Randy Arozarena, Ramon Urias, Luis Urias, Jarren Duran, Joey Meneses, Rosman Verdugo, Rowdy Tellez, Marcelo Mayer, Brandon Valenzuela, Juan Carlos Gamboa, Jonathan Aranda, Mateo Gil, Isaac Paredes, Alexis Wilson, Luis Gonzalez, Alek Thomas, Jared Serna, and Alex Verdugo.
Mexico’s relievers and starters alongside newcomers that can have a chance of returning to their roster for the 2026 WBC are Luis Cessa, Omar Cruz, Manny Barreda, Andres Munoz, Giovanny Gallegos, Taijuan Walker, Jeter Martinez, Humberto Cruz, Alejandro Osuna, Victor Vargas, Javie Assad, Aldo Montes, Christian Romero, Manuel, Rodrguez,Jorge Perez, Jake Sanchez, David Reyes, José Urquidy, Adrian Martinez, Patrick Sandoval, and Gerardo Reyes.
Mexico made it to the semifinals at the 2023 WBC at loanDepot Park in Miami and lost 6-5 to Japan on a game winning double in the bottom of the ninth inning from Munetaka Murakami.
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 https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/venues with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
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 on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
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
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
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
