Mexico reached the semifinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic and will be getting two stars back for the 2026 edition of the tournament.
Rowdy Tellez and Taijuan Walker separately confirmed their return for Mexico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Philadelphia Phillies announced on X that Walker is confirmed to play for Mexico and Tellez confirmed his participation during an appearance on “Foul Territory” on Tuesday.
After falling one win short of playing in the championship game, Tellez noted that Mexico could be even better this year.
“When they called me, right away I said, ‘Yes, I want to be a part of this,’” Tellez said on “Foul Territory.” “It was one of those where it was a special moment to represent my family and represent my country and where my family is from. It meant a lot for them to see ‘Mexico’ on the front and our last name on the back. Sometimes it’s bigger than baseball, and it meant a lot to my family. To be able to do that for my family was huge. We’re returning pretty much everybody, and we’re adding guys, so we’re going to be a really good team again.”
In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Tellez went 7-for-25, had five RBIs and hit a home run. He was a key player for Mexico and will look to make a similar impact again.
Walker made one start for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He pitched four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against Great Britain. Walker was an All-Star in 2021, but has struggled since the last World Baseball Classic. In 2023, he had a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts for the Phillies. In 2024, he had a 7.10 ERA and pitched in just 19 games.
However, last season he looked better. He had a 4.08 ERA, but he had stretches of great play. In the first half of the season, he had a 3.55 ERA. Additionally, he looked solid out of the bullpen, posting a 3.15 ERA in 13 games.
Mexico will have high expectations after its performance in the previous World Baseball Classic. Having Tellez and Walker back should help them make a run.
Photo: Rowdy Tellez (11) breaks his bat on his knee after striking out during the eighth inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Japan, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
