2026 World Baseball Classic: The Most Notable Moments from the Exhibition Games Against MLB Teams

World Baseball Classic exhibition games against Major League clubs in spring training are a great opportunity for wacky and passion-filled moments you may not see during a weekday regular-season contest.  

Sometimes, players participating in the international tournament get a chance to faceoff against their regular teammates. For example, New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero suited up for Team Panama at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday, lining out to second base versus a familiar face, Yankees ace Max Fried.  

Caballero and Fried’s shared moment is just one of the many notable instances around baseball from the past few days. World Baseball Network highlights the best of the best.  

Venezuela’s Ronald Acuna Jr. Accidentally Forgets Rules – There will be no automated ball-strike challenge system in the WBC. Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. either didn’t get the memo or forgot.   

During the second inning of Venezuela’s contest on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros, the right fielder disagreed with home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso’s high strike call against him and immediately tapped his helmet to signal a challenge. Of course, Moscoso told him nothing could be done, and Acuna was left with no option but to accept the call.  

Ronald Acuña Jr. tried to challenge a pitch, but in the World Baseball Classic there's no ABS😂 pic.twitter.com/hAyhzxOltm

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 4, 2026

Manny Machado and Junior Caminero Go Back-to-Back for D.R. – The crowd in Santo Domingo for the Dominican Republic’s opening WBC exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers was electric.  

They exploded twice when Manny Machado and Junior Caminero hit back-to-back dingers in the bottom of the fourth inning at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal en route to a 12-4 victory. This story gets even better when you learn that Machado was Caminero’s favorite player and the reason he wears No. 13 for the Tampa Bay Rays.  

Manny Machado is Junior Caminero’s idol.

Tonight, Caminero went back-to-back alongside his idol. pic.twitter.com/DmxowEP1Ft

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) March 4, 2026

Father-Son Duo Reunite in Team USA-Rockies Matchup – Colorado Rockies No. 1-ranked prospect Ethan Holliday had the unique distinction of being named one of Team USA’s 12 backup players against the club that drafted him for Wednesday’s game.  

The surname Holliday sounds familiar, you say? It may be because he’s the youngest son of former Major League outfielder Matt Holliday, one of the two hitting coaches on the United States’ staff, and a former Rockie himself. Ethan drew a walk and struck out in his two plate appearances, and the USA pummeled the NL West club 14-4 in eight innings.  

Olympics Legend Visits Team USA – Twenty-three-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps knows a thing or two about winning. Arguably the best men’s swimmer in the sport’s history, Phelps was invited to Team USA’s dinner on Monday night in Scottsdale, Arizona, and provided the club with a motivational speech.   

“He was intense,” United States manager Mark DeRosa told MLB.com’s Maria Guardado. “I thought it was an awesome speech. Just kind of his mindset. Second place is not going to get it done. That was kind of his message to the guys. Kind of feeding off each other and coming together as a team.”   

Royals’ Non-Roster Invite Comes Through in the Clutch for Canada – In the last four seasons, utility infielder Abraham Toro has played for four different Major League clubs. The Kansas City Royals will be his fifth if he can break camp with the AL Central team on Opening Day.  

Toro made a statement for all the non-roster invites on Wednesday, showing that they are not to be overlooked this spring. His bases-clearing double in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies tied the score at three and helped his WBC team, Canada, get the better of last year’s NL East champions. Playing time at first base with Canada could come into play for Toro after Freddie Freeman decided to back out, and if Josh Naylor needs a day at DH.  

Photo: Colorado Rockies’ Jake McCarthy (31) slides safely into second base with a double as United States shortstop Ethan Holliday applies a late tag during the fifth inning of an exhibition baseball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)