Francisco Lindor announced on his Instagram on April 16 that he will serve as captain of Puerto Rico’s national team for the second straight World Baseball Classic in 2026. The New York Mets shortstop and four-time All-Star previously held the role in 2023.
Another WBC Team Captain has been named! ????????@jonmorosi previews Francisco Lindor's commitment to next year's competition as the anticipation continues to build. pic.twitter.com/KoS1INfPtj
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 17, 2025
The 31-year-old switch hitter from Caguas, Puerto Rico represented the island at the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and 2023.
Lindor helped lead Puerto Rico to the WBC championship game in 2017, where they fell 8-0 to the United States at Dodger Stadium. In seven games that year, he hit .370/.419/.630 with 10 hits, two home runs, and four RBI across 27 at-bats, earning a spot on the All-World Baseball Classic Team.
At the 2023 tournament, Lindor batted .450 across five games, helping Puerto Rico reach the quarterfinals before falling 5-4 to Mexico at loanDepot Park in Miami. He finished the 2023 WBC with a .450/.500/.550 slash line, tallying nine hits, five RBI, and a triple in 20 at-bats.
Lindor was traded to the Mets from Cleveland on January 21, 2021, in a deal that also sent Carlos Carrasco to New York. He spent six seasons with Cleveland from 2015 to 2020, helping the club reach the World Series in 2016, where they lost in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.
The eighth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft played 777 games for Cleveland and compiled a 28.3 WAR. He batted .285 over 3,510 plate appearances with 896 hits, 191 doubles, 15 triples, 138 home runs, 411 RBI, 99 stolen bases, 284 walks, 496 strikeouts, and a .833 OPS.
Since joining the Mets, Lindor has appeared in 615 games and recorded a 21.6 WAR. He’s hit .258 with 612 hits, 117 doubles, 11 triples, 111 home runs, 365 RBI, 88 stolen bases, 245 walks, 506 strikeouts, and a .793 OPS over 2,684 plate appearances.
Across 11 Major League seasons, Lindor has earned two Gold Glove Awards (2016 and 2019) and four Silver Slugger Awards (2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024). He has played in 1,392 games, compiling a 49.9 WAR with a .274 lifetime average. His career totals include 1,508 hits, 308 doubles, 26 triples, 249 home runs, 776 RBI, 187 stolen bases, 529 walks, 1,002 strikeouts, and an .816 OPS across 6,194 plate appearances.
The Mets (11-7) will open a four-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals (9-9) on April 17 at 7:10 p.m. EDT at Citi Field.
Puerto Rico’s Evaluation for the 2026 WBC
Puerto Rico will compete in Pool A at the 2026 World Baseball Classic alongside Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia. All Pool A games will be played from March 6-11 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
José Quiles is president of the Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico. The FBPR acknowledged Lindor’s commitment to captain the national team for a second consecutive WBC.
https://x.com/beisbolpr/status/1912684343400468953?s=46&t=iqpCiRBt6XoPK58Lx566JQ
Carlos Beltrán will be the general manager, and Joey Solá will serve as chief operating officer for Puerto Rico.
Yadier Molina was announced as manager for Puerto Rico on January 3 and will return for his second WBC in charge. Molina managed the national team in 2023 and had bench coach Alex Cintron, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, assistant hitting coach Juan Gonzalez, pitching coach Ricky Bones, first base coach Jose Molina, third base coach Luis Rivera, and bullpen coach Jose Rosado on his staff.
Molina will evaluate his offensive options during the 2025 regular season as the team prepares for Pool A competition.
Javier Báez, Willi Castro, Carlos Correa, Nelson Velázquez, Emmanuel Rivera, Heliot Ramos, Christian Vázquez, MJ Melendez, Martín Maldonado, Victor Caratini, and Eddie Rosario are among the top candidates who could represent Puerto Rico at the 2026 WBC and remain on the radar of Molina, Beltrán, and Quiles.
There are currently 17 players from Puerto Rico on active Major League rosters during this part of the 2025 season.
The FBPR will also scout talent from other professional circuits throughout 2025, including Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, the Korean Baseball Organization, the CPBL in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the 2025-26 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico. Additional evaluation will take place across winter leagues in the Caribbean and Australia as the federation builds a strong roster for the 2026 WBC.
Puerto Rico Prepares For 2026 WBC In San Juan
Puerto Rico will compete in Pool A of the 2026 WBC alongside Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia. All Pool A games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan from March 6-11.
Carlos Beltrán will serve as general manager, with Joey Solá as chief operating officer. Yadier Molina returns as manager after leading Puerto Rico during the 2023 WBC. The Federación de Béisbol de Puerto Rico, led by president José Quiles, publicly praised Lindor for his renewed commitment as team captain.
Molina and his staff will evaluate Puerto Rico’s offensive depth during the 2025 regular season. Potential key contributors include Javier Báez, Carlos Correa, Eddie Rosario, MJ Melendez, Nelson Velázquez, Willi Castro, Emmanuel Rivera, Heliot Ramos, Christian Vázquez, Martín Maldonado, and Victor Caratini.
As of April 2025, 17 Puerto Rican-born players are on MLB active rosters.
To round out the roster, the FBPR will scout other professional leagues including Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, the KBO in South Korea, the CPBL in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico, as well as other winter leagues across the Caribbean and Australia.
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 slated on MLB’s official World Baseball Classic website with the confirmed dates. 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.