According to Bambino Sedano of El Jonronero on June 5, Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen is eligible to play for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic this March due to his mother’s bloodline.
Michael Lorenzen es de madre mexicana, sería gran opción para la rotación en el Clásico Mundial. https://t.co/8bA3C6kkqH
— Bambino Sedano (@bambino_sedano) June 5, 2025
Mexico lost 6-5 and earned the bronze medal in the 2023 WBC semifinals against Japan on Munetaka Murakami’s game-winning double to left-center in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Mexico will have manager Benji Gil lead the nation for the second consecutive WBC and will face Italy, Great Britain, Brazil, and the United States from March 6-11 in Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Lorenzen was named an All-Star in 2023 and threw a no-hitter on August 9 that year.
The 33-year-old from Anaheim, Calif., has played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds from 2015-21, the Los Angeles Angels in 2022, the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, and the Texas Rangers in 2024, before being traded to Kansas City on July 29, 2024, in exchange for Walter Pennington.
This season with the Royals, Lorenzen has a 3-6 record with a 5.12 ERA in 12 starts, throwing 65 innings, allowing 75 hits, 37 earned runs, 12 home runs, 20 walks, 54 strikeouts, and a 1.462 WHIP.
Last season, between the Rangers and Royals, Lorenzen went 7-6 with a 3.31 ERA across 26 appearances and 24 starts, tossing 130.1 innings, allowing 101 hits, 48 earned runs, 17 home runs, 60 walks, 97 strikeouts, and a 1.235 WHIP.
Over his 11-year Major League career, Lorenzen holds a 50-50 record with a 4.07 ERA in 380 appearances and 105 starts. He has one complete game and one shutout, along with 15 saves. In 919.1 innings pitched, he has allowed 847 hits, 416 earned runs, 112 home runs, 368 walks, and struck out 753 batters with a 1.322 WHIP.
Lorenzen remains in the starting rotation under Royals manager Matt Quatraro alongside Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, Cole Ragans, and Noah Cameron.
Mexico Roster Build Up For 2026 WBC
Federación Mexicana de Béisbol officials will have to scout among other players to be with the Mexico national team during the 2025 seasons across other professional leagues in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korean Baseball Organization, the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and the 2025-26 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico regular season outside the other winter leagues in the Caribbean and Australia in order to build a strong roster for Pool B during the 2026 WBC.
FEMEBE president Enrique Mayorga, manager Benji Gil, general manager Rodrigo Lopez, sports manager Jorge Campillo, and operations manager Mariana Patraca will have to evaluate during the course of the 2025 season on who they will bring on their roster for the 2026 WBC.
All stats for the LMB season, in the leagues 100th year of operation can be found here.
Leif Skodnick of World Baseball Network made a case for other pitchers in their starting rotation, bullpen and position players that can be a possibility for Mexico’s roster.
Mexico will have a similar outlook with their offense to bring back for the 2026 WBC and other additions with the likes of Randy Arozarena, Ramon Urias, Luis Urias, Jarren Duran, Joey Meneses, Rosman Verdugo, Rowdy Tellez, Marcelo Mayer, Brandon Valenzuela, Juan Carlos Gamboa, Jonathan Aranda, Mateo Gil, Isaac Paredes, Alexis Wilson, Luis Gonzalez, Alek Thomas, Jared Serna, and Alex Verdugo.
Mexico’s relievers and starters alongside newcomers that can have a chance of returning to their roster for the 2026 WBC are Luis Cessa, Omar Cruz, Manny Barreda, Andres Munoz, Giovanny Gallegos, Taijuan Walker, Jeter Martinez, Humberto Cruz, Alejandro Osuna, Victor Vargas, Javie Assad, Aldo Montes, Christian Romero, Manuel, Rodrguez,Jorge Perez, Jake Sanchez, David Reyes, José Urquidy, Adrian Martinez, Patrick Sandoval, and Gerardo Reyes.
Mexico made it to the semifinals at the 2023 WBC at loanDepot Park in Miami and lost 6-5 to Japan on a game winning double in the bottom of the ninth inning from Munetaka Murakami.
WBC Overview