According to a report by Cuban journalist Yusseff Díaz, Cuba has reached out to Royals catching prospect Omar Hernández about representing the country at the 2026 World Baseball Classic — and he’s accepted the invitation.
“Yes, they contacted me and I said yes, I was willing to participate,” Hernández confirmed when asked about his potential involvement.
Hernández, currently in the Kansas City Royals organization, hit .203/.242/.271 this season at High-A before being promoted to Double-A earlier this week. While he has competed internationally in the past, this would mark his first time playing for Cuba.
Hernández has deep Cuban roots. His parents are originally from Cuba, and his father, Edgar Hernández, played in the Cuban Serie Nacional before leaving the island when Omar and his twin brother Frank were 12 years old.
Omar has previously represented Spain at the youth level, during the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualifiers, and at the 2023 European Championship—where he put together a breakout performance. In that tournament, he slashed .393/.433/.964 and tied for the tournament lead with four home runs.
Now, the 2026 WBC could offer Hernández a new chapter in his international career—this time in a Cuban uniform.
