San Diego Padres top shortstop prospect Leodalis De Vries is now eligible to represent the Netherlands in the 2026 World Baseball Classic after acquiring Dutch citizenship through his grandparents, Dominican reporter Eliezer González Caraballo reported on April 23.
Prospectazo de los Padres de San Diego, Leodalis De Vries, de abuelos holandeses, ha conseguido la nacionalidad de sus abuelos recientemente, y fuentes indican que podría estar con Países Bajos 🇳🇱 en el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol pic.twitter.com/b1PocyJErk
— Eliezer González Caraballo (@ElTioElie) April 23, 2025
Shawn Spradling, an international baseball researcher, also noted that De Vries is eligible to play for both the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic in future WBC events.
NO. WAY. We all speculated because of his last name, but now it’s confirmed…
Leo De Vries is eligible for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic 🇳🇱🇩🇴 https://t.co/3YlBoqkjGs
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) April 23, 2025
The eligibility rules for the 2026 World Baseball Classic are outlined here.
The Netherlands will compete in Pool D at the 2026 WBC, held at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6–11. They are grouped with Israel, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.
A member of WBSC Europe, the Netherlands will join Italy, Israel, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic as European nations returning for a second consecutive WBC appearance.
De Vries, ranked No. 17 on MLBPipeline.com’s Top 100 list, signed with the Padres for $4.2 million on January 15, 2024, during the international signing period.
The 18-year-old switch-hitter from Azua, Dominican Republic, opened the 2025 season at High-A Fort Wayne. In 14 games, he’s slashing .291/.344/.618 with 16 hits, three doubles, three triples, three home runs, 13 RBI, five walks, and 13 strikeouts over 61 plate appearances. He has also stolen one base.
On April 23, Francys Romero reported that De Vries became the youngest player since 2006 to hit for the cycle at the High-A level.
Dominican phenom Leo De Vries is the youngest player (18 years and 193 days) to hit for the cycle in High-A level since 2006.pic.twitter.com/izgsJCypng
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) April 23, 2025
De Vries also became the third player in Fort Wayne TinCaps history to hit for the cycle, tying the franchise’s single-game RBI record with eight in a 5-for-5 performance that included two home runs on April 22.
THE LEO DE VRIES GAME
The 18-year-old 🔝 @Padres prospect just tied our franchise record for RBIs in a game with 8️⃣, as he became only the 3️⃣rd player in franchise history to hit for the cycle❗️
El Mutante 👽 went 5️⃣-for-5️⃣, including 2️⃣ homers in a wild 15-14 win at Lansing‼️ pic.twitter.com/VJRTLpYwSz
— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) April 23, 2025
The 6-foot-1, 183-pound shortstop appeared in 75 games during his first professional season in 2024 with Low-A Lake Elsinore, hitting .238 with 71 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, 28 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 50 walks, 84 strikeouts, and a .803 OPS over 360 plate appearances.
He played 18 games in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after the 2024 season, hitting .179/.269/.313 with 12 hits, three doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, three steals, and 21 strikeouts across 78 plate appearances.
Across his first two professional seasons, De Vries has a .246 average, 87 hits, 25 doubles, six triples, 14 home runs, 51 RBI, 14 stolen bases, 55 walks, 97 strikeouts, and a .828 OPS in 89 games.
Netherlands Eyes Strong Return for WBC 2026
Former MLB outfielder Andruw Jones expressed interest in managing the Netherlands for the 2026 WBC, telling Leonte Landino of Diamante23 on March 18 that he’d welcome the opportunity.
Andruw Jones habló sobre su potencial confirmación como manager de Países Bajos en el Clásico Mundial 2025 👀#TokyoSeries #MLB #Béisbol #Diamante23 pic.twitter.com/2k6BJKWzBW
— Diamante 23 (@Diamante23OF) March 18, 2025
KNBSB president Gregor Rossen will oversee roster construction through 2025, scouting players from the Curaçao National Championship AA League, Curacao Professional Baseball League, Honkbal Hoofdklasse, Nippon Professional Baseball, Korea Baseball Organization, CPBL in Taiwan, and Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, among others.
All the stats for the Honkbal Hoofdklasse regular season are located on KNBSB. The Curacao National Champioship AA League stats are located on Curacao’s WBSC page. Both federations are easy to follow on Istagram @honkbalsoftbalnl and @baseballcuracao.
Returning or prospective position players for the Netherlands include Xander Bogaerts, Jonathan Schoop, Andrelton Simmons, Juremi Profar, Jurickson Profar, Didi Gregorius, Chadwick Tromp, Ozzie Albies, Joshua Palacios, and Richie Palacios.
The pitching staff is expected to include Mike Bolsenbroek, Lars Huijer, Kevin Kelly, Ryan Huntington, Derek West, and Arij Fransen, who all competed in Pool A of the 2023 WBC. Top prospects Stijn Van der Schaaf, Connor Prins, and Brandon Herbold are also in the mix.
The Netherlands went 2–2 in the 2023 WBC but failed to advance due to the Total Quality Balance run differential rule. Their next competitive opportunity will be the 2025 European Baseball Championship, held September 20–27 in Senago (Italy), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Borgerhout (Belgium).
WBC Overview
Japan has won the most WBC championships with three in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The United States won in 2017 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013 and are the only other countries to win the WBC since the event started in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are available here with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
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.
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.
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.
Colombia at No. 13 and will appear in their third WBC. Italy is at No. 14 and will play in their sixth event The Czech Republic at No. 15 will appear in their second WBC. Nicaragua is ranked at No. 16 and will appear in the WBC for the second-time.
Great Britain at No. 18 will play for the second time at the WBC. Israel is ranked at No. 19 and will play in their third WBC. Canada is at No. 22 and will play in their sixth event. Brazil is ranked at No. 23 and will play in their second WBC.
In the 2023 WBC, Nicaragua, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic played in their first event. Israel and Colombia have played in three consecutive WBC events dating back to 2017. Brazil is appearing in the WBC for the first time since 2013. Panama has played in the WBC previously in 2006, 2009 and 2023, prior to 2026.
China will not be participating for the first time in the WBC since they did not qualify in the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., while going 0-3. They have been in the WBC since 2006, in the event’s first year.
The teams that are playing in the 2026 WBC and are part of the WBSC Americas sector are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. In the WBSC Europe sector, Italy, Israel, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are participating in the 2026 event.
Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea are in the WBSC Asia sector and Australia is in the WBSC Oceania sector.
All the other listed remaining countries have played in the WBC since its first year in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
If teams end up with the same record in pool play the Total Quality Balance run differential rule will be in effect for runs for and runs against alongside the head-to-head record.
2026 WBC Pool Matchups With Confirmed Dates
Pool A – Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Canada & Cuba
Venue – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan, Puerto Rico
March 6
Game 1 – Cuba vs. Panama
Game 2 – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia
March 7
Game 3 – Colombia vs. Canada
Game 4 – Panama vs. Puerto Rico
March 8
Game 5 – Colombia vs. Cuba
Game 6 – Panama vs. Canada
March 9
Game 7 – Colombia vs. Panama
Game 8 – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico
March 10
Game 9 – Canada vs. Puerto Rico
March 11
Game 10 – Canada vs. Cuba
Pool B – United States, Mexico, Brazil, Great Britain & Italy
Venue – Daikin Park – Houston, Texas
March 6
Game 1 – Mexico vs. Great Britain
Game 2 – United States vs. Brazil
March 7
Game 3 – Brazil vs. Italy
Game 4 – Great Britain vs. United States
March 8
Game 5 – Great Britain vs. Italy
Game 6 – Brazil vs. Mexico
March 9
Game 7 – Brazil vs. Great Britain
Game 8 – Mexico vs. United States
March 10
Game 9 – Italy vs. United States
March 11
Game 10 – Italy vs. Mexico
Pool C – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, South Korea & Czech Republic
Venue – Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan
March 5
Game 1 – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
Game 2 – Czechia vs. South Korea
March 6
Game 3 – Australia vs. Czechia
Game 4 – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
March 7
Game 5 – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
Game 6 – South Korea vs. Japan
March 8
Game 7 – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea
Game 8 – Australia vs. Japan
March 9
Game 9 – South Korea vs. Australia
March 10
Game 10 – Czechia vs. Japan
Pool D – Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel & Nicaragua
Venue – loanDepot Park – Miami, Fla.
March 6
Game 1 – Netherlands vs. Venezuela
Game 2 – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
March 7
Game 3 – Nicaragua vs. Netherlands
Game 4 – Israel vs. Venezuela
March 8
Game 5 – Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic
Game 6 – Nicaragua vs. Israel
March 9
Game 7 – Dominican Republic vs. Israel
Game 8 – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua
March 10
Game 9 – Israel vs. Netherlands
March 11
Game 10 – Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela
San Diego Padres’ Leodalis De Vries forces out Athletics’ Gio Urshela (13) as he turns a double play on CJ Alexander during the second inning of a spring training baseball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
