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Eugenio Suarez Cranks Four Home Runs On Saturday and Makes Strong Case For Venezuela 2026 World Baseball Classic Roster

Matt TallariniApr 27, 202512 MIN READ
Eugenio Suarez cranks four home runs for Arizona Diamondbacks, becoming first from Venezuela, strengthening case for Venezuela’s 2026 World Baseball Classic

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman and front-runner candidate to play for Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Eugenio Suarez cranked four home runs with five RBI on Saturday night in front of 43,043 fans at Chase Field, though Arizona fell 8-7 in 10 innings to the Atlanta Braves in the second game of their three-game series.

Suarez became the 19th player in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in a single game.

Suarez followed up his historic night by going 1-for-3 on Sunday in Arizona’s 6-4 win against Atlanta, hitting a line-drive infield single to second base in the fourth inning, scoring one run, drawing one walk, and striking out once.

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit his 10th home run of the season on Sunday afternoon in their 7-6 home win over the Miami Marlins, and is now tied with Suarez for the Major League lead in home runs.

The 33-year-old right-handed slugger from Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar, Venezuela, leads the majors with 10 home runs entering Sunday afternoon.

Suarez is batting .202/.306/.564 across 27 games, with 19 hits, four doubles, 20 RBI, one stolen base, 11 walks, and 30 strikeouts over 108 plate appearances to begin the 2025 season.

Suarez is the second Latino-born player — and the first Venezuelan-born player — to hit four home runs in a single Major League game.

The last Latino-born player to accomplish the feat was former Toronto Blue Jays left-handed slugger Carlos Delgado, who hit four home runs on September 25, 2003.

Suarez and Delgado are the only players born outside the United States to hit four home runs in a Major League Baseball game.

Cuban-American and Miami native J.D. Martinez also hit four home runs in a game, doing so for the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 4, 2017, against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Suarez and Martinez are now the only players in Diamondbacks history to record four home runs in a game. Martinez was also the last player to accomplish the feat before Suarez’s performance.

Former Diamondbacks Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez had previously each hit three home runs in a game for Arizona but never four.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Diamondbacks are the second team in Major League history to give up four home runs to a single player and lose. Former Braves infielder Bob Horner hit four home runs in a loss to the Montreal Expos on July 6, 1986.

Nightengale also reported that Suarez is the third player in Major League history to hit four home runs in the month of April, joining Hall of Famers Willie Mays in 1961 and Mike Schmidt in 1976.

Advanced baseball researcher Sarah Langs stated that the Braves are the third team in Major League history to allow four home runs to an individual player and still win the game, joining the 1986 Braves and Ed Delahanty’s Philadelphia Phillies in 1896.

Suarez’s historic night began with a solo shot against Braves starter Grant Holmes in the bottom of the second inning, launching a first-pitch 93.8 mph four-seam fastball 418 feet over the left-center field wall.

His second home run came off Holmes in the fourth inning, a 411-foot two-run homer over the left-center fence, scoring Gabriel Moreno, on the sixth pitch of the at-bat off a 94.6 mph four-seam fastball.

Suarez crushed his third home run of the game in the sixth inning, sending an 84.5 mph slider 443 feet just left of the center field batter’s eye on the first pitch of the at-bat.

His fourth home run came in the ninth inning, a solo blast off Cuban right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias, sending a 97.2 mph four-seam fastball 383 feet over the left-field wall to tie the game at 7-7.

Suarez, a one-time All-Star selection in 2018, is in his second season with the Diamondbacks after being traded from Seattle on November 22, 2023, for Carlos Vargas and Seby Zavala.

Suarez made his Major League debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2014, spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 2015-21, and was traded to the Mariners on March 14, 2022, as part of a multi-player deal that also included Jesse Winker, Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips.

Last season with Arizona, Suarez posted a 3.1 WAR while hitting .256 across 158 games with 30 home runs, 101 RBI, and a .788 OPS.

This past offseason, Suarez played in 17 games for the Leones del Caracas in the 2024-25 Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional regular season and slashed .346/.446/.891 with 65 plate appearances, dialing 19 hits, six doubles, eight home runs, 14 RBI, nine walks and striking out 14 times.

In his 12-year Major League career, Suarez holds a lifetime WAR of 23.6. Entering Sunday’s game, he’s batting .248 with 1,319 hits, 238 doubles, 15 triples, 286 home runs, 851 RBI, 33 stolen bases, 597 walks, and 1,648 strikeouts across 1,498 games and 6,078 plate appearances.

Venezuela Outlook For 2026 WBC

Suarez can have a major offensive impact for Venezuela at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, set to begin in less than 11 months.

Venezuela will compete in Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami, facing Nicaragua, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic from March 6-11.

At the 2023 WBC, Venezuela fell 9-7 to the United States in the quarterfinals at loanDepot Park.

Suarez made his WBC debut for Venezuela in 2023, batting .500/.533/.714 over four games, with seven hits, one home run, six RBI, one walk, five strikeouts, and two runs scored in 14 at-bats.

Venezuela’s deepest WBC run came in 2009, reaching the semifinals before losing to South Korea 10-2 at Dodger Stadium.

Omar Lopez, who managed Venezuela at the 2023 WBC and was promoted to Astros bench coach in December 2023, will lead Venezuela again in 2026. He previously guided Venezuela to the Super Round of the 2024 Premier12, where they finished fifth after a 6-1 loss to the United States in the bronze medal game at Tokyo Dome.

Lopez and Aracelis Leon, president of the Federación Venezolana de Beisbol, will face crucial decisions in shaping the 2026 roster. Position player candidates include Willson Contreras, William Contreras, Ronald Acuña Jr., Anthony Santander, José Altuve, Andrés Giménez, Gleyber Torres, Jackson Chourio, David Peralta, Orlando Arcia, Luis Arráez, Wilmer Flores, Maikel Garcia, Miguel Rojas, Ezequiel Tovar, Francisco Álvarez, Luisangel Acuna, Oswaldo Cabrera, Wilyer Abreu, Salvador Perez, Gabriel Moreno, and Suarez.

Venezuela’s pitching options could feature Pablo Lopez, Jesus Luzardo, Ranger Suarez, Martin Perez, Eduardo Rodriguez, Edgardo Henriquez, Brusdar Graterol, Jose Ruiz, German Marquez, Jose Butto, Robert Suarez, Jose Alvarado, and Luis Garcia.

FEVEBEISBOL will also scout players competing in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, the Korean Baseball Organization, the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, and the 2025-26 Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional season, along with other winter leagues in the Caribbean and Australia, to build a strong roster for Pool D.

Venezuela is currently ranked No. 3 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation world rankings.

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 available here with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.

2026 World Baseball Classic Information 

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

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.

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.

The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.

WBSC Rankings Outline

Japan is ranked at No. 1 in the World Baseball Rankings and will play in their sixth WBC. Chinese Taipei hails at No. 2. and will play in their sixth event. Venezuela at No. 3 and will appear for the sixth time at the WBC. Mexico is at No. 4 and will play in their sixth WBC. The United States is at No. 5 and will appear for the sixth time in the WBC. South Korea is labeled at No. 6 and will play in their sixth WBC.

The Netherlands at No. 7 will play in the WBC for the sixth time. Panama at No. 8 will play at the event for the fourth time. Puerto Rico crawling in at No. 9 will appear for the sixth time. Cuba is at No. 10 and will appear in the sixth WBC. The Dominican Republic at No. 11 will play in their sixth event. Australia pipelines at No. 12 and will play for the sixth time at the WBC.

Colombia at No. 13 and will appear in their third WBC. Italy is at No. 14 and will play in their sixth event The Czech Republic at No. 15 will appear in their second WBC. Nicaragua is ranked at No. 16 and will appear in the WBC for the second-time.

Great Britain at No. 18 will play for the second time at the WBC. Israel is ranked at No. 19 and will play in their third WBC. Canada is at No. 22 and will play in their sixth event. Brazil is ranked at No. 23 and will play in their second WBC.

In the 2023 WBC, Nicaragua, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic played in their first event. Israel and Colombia have played in three consecutive WBC events dating back to 2017. Brazil is appearing in the WBC for the first time since 2013. Panama has played in the WBC previously in 2006, 2009 and 2023, prior to 2026.

China will not be participating for the first time in the WBC since they did not qualify in the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., while going 0-3. They have been in the WBC since 2006, in the event’s first year.

The teams that are playing in the 2026 WBC and are part of the WBSC Americas sector are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. In the WBSC Europe sector, Italy, Israel, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are participating in the 2026 event.

Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea are in the WBSC Asia sector and Australia is in the WBSC Oceania sector.

All the other listed remaining countries have played in the WBC since its first year 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.

If teams end up with the same record in pool play the Total Quality Balance run differential rule will be in effect for runs for and runs against alongside the head-to-head record.

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

 

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez hits a solo home run and fourth of the game against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

 

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