According to a report from El Universal on Tuesday, Athletic’s third baseman Gio Urshela will play for Colombia in the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers.
The 33-year-old from Cartagena, Colombia, played for Colombia in the 2013 WBC Qualifiers and the 2017 and 2023 editions of the World Baseball Classic. Urshela is heading into his tenth season in Major League Baseball. He signed a one-year, $2.15 million contract with the A’s in December. A source told MLB.com that Urshela can earn up to $400,000 in incentives during the 2025 season.
Urshela’s veteran presence at the WBC Qualifiers may prove valuable for Colombia. In El Universal’s article, Carlos Caballero V states that many Colombian players will not suit up for their home country in the tournament.
Players not making the trip to Tucson, Arizona, are Seattle Mariners utility infielder Donovan Solano, Cleveland Guardians shortstop Dayan Frías, Los Angeles Angels outfielder and catcher Gustavo Campero, and third baseman Jordan Díaz, who signed a multi-year contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes in January.
Urshela is a career .273 hitter, and he has accumulated a 9.7 WAR playing for the Cleveland Guardians (2015, 2017), Toronto Blue Jays (2018), New York Yankees (2019-21), Minnesota Twins (2022), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Detroit Tigers (2024), and Atlanta Braves (2024).
The righty has briefly played in winter leagues. During the 2018-19 LIDOM season, Urshela suited up for 26 games with the Tigres del Licey. Then, during the 2023-24 LPB season, he hit .282 with five RBI in 11 games for the Caimanes de Barranquilla.
On Wednesday, Colombia opened a training camp for the WBC Qualifiers at Estadio Édgar Renteria in Barranquilla, Colombia. According to the World Baseball Softball Confederation, 14 players are training under the leadership of manager Neder Horta. Players at the training camp include MLB free agent infielder Harold Ramirez and second baseman Dilson Herrera, who made his last MLB appearance in 2020 with the Baltimore Orioles.
Horta had a four-year career in the lower minor leagues from 1985-88 in the New York Yankees and Houston Astros organizations and was on Colombia’s coaching staff in the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cups. The expectation is Horta and Colombia will release the entire 28-man roster for the WBC Qualifiers sometime soon.
Colombia will compete in the Tucson Qualification Pool with Brazil, Germany, and China from March 2 to 6. The action will occur at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
The Taipei Qualification Pool will be held from February 21 to 25 at the Taipei Dome in Taipei, Taiwan. Chinese Taipei, Spain, Nicaragua, and South Africa will vie to earn two of the four available spots in the 2026 WBC.
On Monday, February 3, the 2025 WBC Qualifiers were announced to be streamed for free on YouTube, Facebook, the WBC’s website, and MLB.tv.
