According to Miguel Lugo of TUDN Sinaloa on June 5, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda will play for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for the second consecutive tournament.
???? ARANDA AL CLÁSICO MUNDIAL ????
Jonathan Aranda???????? confirmó que formará parte de la Selección Mexicana para el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol.
“Ya le dí mi palabra a Rodrigo López”. pic.twitter.com/SiYOqq9kXz
— Miguel Lugo (@_MiguelLugo) June 5, 2025
Aranda played in three games for Mexico at the 2023 WBC, batting .167 in six at-bats with one hit and three strikeouts.
Mexico lost 6-5 in the 2023 WBC semifinals to Japan on Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double to left-center field in the bottom of the ninth, earning the bronze medal.
Mexico will once again be managed by Benji Gil and will face Italy, Great Britain, Brazil, and the United States in Pool B from March 6-11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Lugo, who also broadcasts for the Tomateros de Culiacán of Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, reported that Aranda will play for the Yaquis de Obregón during the 2025-26 winter league season to prepare for the WBC.
???? ARANDA AL CLÁSICO MUNDIAL ????
Jonathan Aranda???????? confirmó que formará parte de la Selección Mexicana para el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol.
“Ya le dí mi palabra a Rodrigo López”. pic.twitter.com/SiYOqq9kXz
— Miguel Lugo (@_MiguelLugo) June 5, 2025
The Yaquis will open their LAMP season on the road October 16 against the Cañeros de Los Mochis at Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada in Los Mochis, Sinaloa. No start times have been announced yet.
The 27-year-old left-handed hitter from Tijuana, Mexico, signed with Tampa Bay as an international free agent on July 2, 2015, and made his Major League debut on June 24, 2022, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This season, Aranda has played in 56 games with 210 plate appearances and is batting .326 with 59 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, 32 RBI, 23 walks, 50 strikeouts, and a .923 OPS entering Thursday’s home game against the Texas Rangers.
Aranda went hitless in three at-bats Thursday night, but scored a run, drew a walk, and struck out once in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win.
During the 2024-25 LAMP season, Aranda played 26 games with the Yaquis, hitting .309/.430/.617 in 115 plate appearances with 29 hits, seven doubles, two triples, six home runs, 19 RBI, 16 walks, and 19 strikeouts.
He fractured his right ring finger on March 27, 2024, and was placed on the 10-day injured list. In 2024, he split time between Triple-A Durham and the Rays.
With Durham, Aranda hit .237/.368/.424 across 32 games and 144 plate appearances, collecting 28 hits, one double, seven home runs, 19 RBI, 23 walks, and 47 strikeouts.
With the Rays, he appeared in 44 games and batted .234/.308/.430 with 143 plate appearances, 30 hits, seven doubles, six home runs, 14 RBI, 12 walks, and 32 strikeouts.
Across four Major League seasons with Tampa Bay, Aranda has played in 166 games, batting .262 with 124 hits, 27 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, 65 RBI, 56 walks, 136 strikeouts, and a .780 OPS prior to Thursday’s game.
The 33-29 Rays will begin a three-game home series at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., against the 23-37 Miami Marlins on Friday, June 6 at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Mexico Roster Build-Up for 2026 WBC
Federación Mexicana de Béisbol officials will evaluate talent across professional leagues in Japan (NPB), Korea (KBO), Taiwan (CPBL), the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the 2025-26 LAMP season, as well as players in the Caribbean and Australia, to build a strong roster for Pool B at the 2026 WBC.
FEMEBE president Enrique Mayorga, manager Benji Gil, general manager Rodrigo López, sports manager Jorge Campillo, and operations manager Mariana Patraca will make roster decisions over the course of the 2025 season.
LMB statistics and standings for the league’s 100th year of operation are available here.
Leif Skodnick of World Baseball Network outlined several pitchers, relievers, and position players who could factor into Mexico’s 2026 WBC roster.
Key offensive returnees or additions could include Randy Arozarena, Ramón Urías, Luis Urías, Jarren Duran, Joey Meneses, Rosman Verdugo, Rowdy Téllez, Marcelo Mayer, Brandon Valenzuela, Juan Carlos Gamboa, Mateo Gil, Isaac Paredes, Alexis Wilson, Luis González, Alek Thomas, Jared Serna, and Alex Verdugo.
Possible pitchers and relievers include Luis Cessa, Omar Cruz, Manny Barreda, Andrés Muñoz, Giovanny Gallegos, Taijuan Walker, Jeter Martínez, Humberto Cruz, Alejandro Osuna, Víctor Vargas, Javier Assad, Aldo Montes, Christian Romero, Manuel Rodríguez, Jorge Pérez, Jake Sánchez, David Reyes, José Urquidy, Adrián Martínez, Patrick Sandoval, and Gerardo Reyes.
Mexico reached the semifinals at the 2023 WBC before falling 6-5 to Japan at loanDepot Park on Murakami’s game-winning double in the ninth inning.
World Baseball Classic Overview
Japan leads all nations with three WBC titles (2006, 2009, 2023). The United States (2017) and Dominican Republic (2013) are the only other countries to win since the tournament began in 2006.
The WBC is organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, in partnership with MLB, the MLB Players Association, and WBCI.
All 2026 WBC pool matchups and venues are listed on the official World Baseball Classic website. No game times have been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
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.
Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11 in Pool D.
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 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.
The schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! ???? pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025
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.