In a recent interview with Japanese reporter Ayako Oikawa for MLB.com, Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta confirmed his intention to play for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. After missing the 2023 edition of the tournament, Peralta expressed his excitement about representing his country on the world stage.
“I think I’m gonna be on the team,” Peralta said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m starting or relieving. That doesn’t matter to me — I just want to represent and do my best to help the team win.”
Peralta is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career in 2025. Through 125 2/3 innings, he has posted a 12–5 record with a 3.08 ERA, 134 strikeouts, and a 2.2 fWAR. Perhaps most impressively, his average fastball velocity has risen to a career-high 94.9 mph. While his velocity doesn’t rank among the league’s top 15, the effectiveness of his fastball is undeniable — it ranks among the top 20 in MLB in pitch value, according to FanGraphs.
One of the Dominican Republic’s main concerns at the 2023 WBC was a lack of rotation depth. Beyond aces Sandy Alcántara and Cristian Javier, the team struggled to field reliable arms in the back end of the rotation.
That could change significantly in 2026. In addition to Peralta’s commitment, Luis Castillo has previously expressed interest in participating, and Cristopher Sánchez — who has emerged as one of MLB’s top starters — has also expressed his interest in joining the D.R. in 2026. With this trio, the Dominican Republic could potentially field its strongest WBC rotation ever.
The Dominican squad will begin their 2026 campaign in Miami, opening against Nicaragua on March 6 in what promises to be an electric atmosphere. They’ll follow with matchups against the Kingdom of the Netherlands on March 8, Israel on March 9, and Venezuela on March 11, with the latter likely to be a high-stakes clash with major implications for both nations.
After disappointing early exits in both 2017 and 2023, the Dominican Republic will be looking to return to the semifinals for the first time since their championship run in 2013. If they’re to make a deep run, Freddy Peralta will be a key figure on the mound — and based on his current form, he looks more than ready for the moment.
Photo: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after striking out Bryan Reynolds of the Pittsburgh Pirates for his 200th of the season in the sixth inning at PNC Park on September 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
