Albert Pujols Will Manage Dominican Republic In 2026 World Baseball Classic

Albert Pujols will manage the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reported on February 28. 

https://t.co/uEkJt0bcIM

— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) February 28, 2025

The World Baseball Classic is organized by Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. 

According to Rojas, the Dominican Republic’s general manager, former MLB slugger Nelson Cruz, plans to make an official announcement before the end of March. 

Pujols recently led the Leones del Escogido to a 1-0 victory at the 2025 Caribbean Series, securing the club’s fifth LIDOM championship. In his first managerial role, Pujols guided the team to a one-hit shutout at El Nido de los Águilas in Mexicali, Mexico, against the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico champion Charros de Jalisco.

The Dominican Republic is ranked at No. 11 in the World Baseball Rankings, published by the WBSC. 

At the 2026 WBC, the Dominican Republic will compete in Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6-11, facing Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and a qualifier nation. Nicaragua and Chinese Taipei have officially qualified for the tournament, but have yet to be assigned to a pool.

In the 2023 WBC, the Dominican Republic, led by manager Rodney Linares, played in Pool D at loanDepot Park, finishing 2-2. The team earned wins over Nicaragua and Israel but suffered key losses to Venezuela and Puerto Rico, eliminating them from the tournament.

The Dominican Republic won its only WBC championship in 2013, when they beat Puerto Rico 3-0 at AT&T in San Francisco, Calif under former manager Tony Pena. 

Pena also managed the Dominican Republic in 2017, leading the team to a 3-0 record in Pool C at loanDepot Park with victories over Colombia, Canada and the United States. However, they were eliminated in Pool F at Petco Park in San Diego afters losses to Puerto Rico and the United States, despite a win over Venezuela. 

Felipe Alou managed the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and Manny Acta led the team in 2006.

Pujols, a three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, and two-time World Series champion, brings a Hall of Fame-caliber résumé to the dugout. His 703 career home runs and extensive experience make him a natural choice to lead his home country in the 2026 WBC.

He is also set to make history as the first Dominican Republic player to both compete in the World Baseball Classic and later manage in the tournament. Yadier Molina accomplished the feat for Puerto Rico, having played in the WBC from 2006 to 2017 before managing in 2023.

Molina guided Puerto Rico to two WBC finals, including an 8-0 loss to the United States in the 2017 championship game at Dodger Stadium.

Mark De Rosa also played for the United States in the 2009 WBC and managed the red, white, and blue in 2023 to the championship game at loanDepot Park and lost 3-2 to No. 1 Japan. 

Other former players who later managed in the WBC include Mark DeRosa, who played for Team USA in the 2009 WBC and managed them in 2023, leading the team to the championship game, where they lost 3-2 to Japan at loanDepot Park.

Hall of Famer Mike Piazza played for Italy in the 2006 WBC and returned as the team’s manager in 2023, guiding them to the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Dome before falling 9-3 to Japan.

Omar Vizquel played for Venezuela in the 2006 WBC and later managed the national team in 2017.

Benji Gil represented Mexico as a player in the 2006 WBC and later managed the squad to the 2023 semifinals, where they lost 6-5 to Japan on Munetaka Murakami’s game-winning two-run double in the bottom of the ninth at loanDepot Park.

Vinny Castilla, who played for Mexico in the 2006 WBC, managed the team in the 2009 tournament.

Ian Kinsler played for USA Baseball in the 2017 WBC and won a gold medal before managing Israel at the 2023 event.

Pujols will join an elite group of former MLB players who have both competed in and managed at the World Baseball Classic.

Pujols played for the Dominican Republic in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, appearing in seven games. He hit .286/.483/.429, recording eight hits in 21 at-bats, scoring five runs, and adding one home run, three RBIs, seven walks, and one strikeout. His performance helped the Dominican Republic reach the semifinals at Petco Park, where they lost 3-1 to Cuba.

Once eligible for the Hall of Fame, Pujols will likely be enshrined in Cooperstown, solidifying his place among international baseball greats. In the meantime, he will focus on helping the Dominican Republic prepare for the 2026 WBC. He will work alongside Federación Dominicana de Béisbol president Juan Núñez in the coming months and after the 2025 MLB season to build the roster for the tournament.

2026 World Baseball Classic Information

The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B. 

Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation 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 a Qualifier nation 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 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.