Brazil’s World Baseball Classic Qualifiers Roster  

We are just about less than three weeks away from the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers being held in Tucson, Arizona. The four teams, Colombia, China, Germany, and Brazil will compete from March 2-6 to see which two teams will move ahead to the 2026 World Baseball Classic. All four teams have revealed their rosters for the upcoming action. Here is who will be representing Brazil. 

 

Pitchers: 

• Tiago Da Silva 

• Caio De Araujo 

• Murilo Gouvea 

• Hugo Kanabushi 

• Pedro Da Costa Lemos 

• Joao Gabriel Marostica 

• Oscar Nakaoshi 

• Rafael Ohashi 

• Eric Pardinho  

• Enzo Sawayama 

• Bo Takahashi 

• Heitor Tokar  

• Arthur Tsujiguchi 

• Hector Villarroel  

Catchers: 

• Gabriel Gomes 

• Matheus Lelis 

• Gabriel Carmo 

Infielders: 

• Osvaldo Carvalho  

• Vitor Ito 

• Felipe Mizukosi 

• Tiago Nishiyama 

• Leonardo Reginatto 

• Lucas Rojo 

Outfielders: 

• Dante Bichette Jr.  

• Gabriel Maciel 

• Victor Mascai 

• Lucas Ramirez 

• Daniel Yonemura 

 

In total, none of Brazil’s roster has any MLB experience, but several players have played throughout the minor leagues, and in leagues outside of the United States. Brazil made its first World Baseball Classic appearance in 2013, but would go 0-3. They would appear in Qualifiers for the 2017 and 2023 editions, but did not perform well enough to appear in the WBC. Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto will serve as Brazil’s manager, and former players Andre Rienzo becomes the team’s pitching coach, while Paulo Orlando will be Brazil’s baserunning coach.  

 

Brazil features an interesting lineup, with one of the most notable names being the son of former Rockies slugger Dante Bichette, Dante Bichette Jr.. The brother of Bo Bichette, Dante Jr., the 32-year-old was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He would play in the Yankees organization until 2017, and spent one year in the Nationals organization in 2019. Bichette last appeared with the High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), playing in 36 games, hitting for a .386 average with three home runs, and 23 RBIs.  

 

As for their starting rotation, it is likely that Bo Takahashi could take to the hill for Brazil’s first game. The 28-year-old was born in Presidente Prudente, Brazil. He had made his minor league debut as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in 2014, and would spend until 2019 in their organization. Takahashi was called up by the DBacks in August 2019, but was optioned a day later without appearing in an MLB game, making him a phantom ballplayer. He signed with the Reds in 2021, but only appeared at the Triple-A level. He would make a brief stint in the KBO after he was released by Cincinnati, and for the past three seasons, he has pitched with the Saitama Seibu Lions in NPB. In 33 games, Takahashi went 2-9, with a 3.22 ERA, striking out 48 batters and walking 27 across 72.2 innings of work.  

 

An intriguing arm coming out of Brazil’s bullpen will be Eric Pardinho. He would make his minor league debut in the Toronto Blue Jays organization at just 17-years-old. The now 24-year-old right-hander has transitioned into a bullpen role, where in 2024 he reached Triple-A for the first time in his career. This past season, between Double-A and Triple-A, Pardino pitched to a 2-1 record, posting a 3.25 ERA in 45 appearances, locking down one save, striking out 66 batters and walking 28 in just 55.1 innings.  

 

Brazil’s first game for the WBC Qualifiers will be played on March 2, when they face Colombia. Following that, they will play Germany and China, as two teams will be able to move on for a shot to compete at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.