Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley has confirmed his interest in representing Mexico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to an exclusive interview with MB Sports TV. The 24-year-old right-hander, whose grandmother is Mexican, is eligible to suit up for Team Mexico and appears to be in serious talks with team officials.
Speaking with MB Sports TV’s Samara Pérez about his interest, Bradley said:
“Yeah, I’ve wanted to. Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda put me in contact with the GM. There are very good hopes that I will be able to play with them next year.”
Now in his third MLB season, Bradley has posted a 4.60 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings for the Rays in 2025. Despite an up-and-down campaign, he remains one of the most intriguing young arms available to Mexico for this tournament. For a Mexican national team dealing with injuries to key starters like José Urquidy, Javier Assad and Patrick Sandoval, Taj Bradley could be a huge boost.
Among Mexico’s potential WBC rotation options, Bradley stands out as the hardest thrower, with an average fastball velocity of 96.2 MPH. Most of Mexico’s remaining candidates sit in the low 90s, so adding a high-velocity arm like Bradley’s could give the team a much-needed edge atop the rotation.
Team Mexico is already expected to have one of the strongest bullpens in the tournament, featuring some potential power arms like:
A breakout performance from Bradley could elevate the team’s pitching staff in the tournament.
Mexico will open their 2026 WBC campaign on March 6 at 1 PM EDT in Houston, taking on Great Britain. They’ll also face Brazil, the United States, and Italy in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive Pool B.
Bradley’s potential inclusion adds even more intrigue to a roster that should feature a lot of young talent and returning talent from a team that fell just short of a championship game appearance in the last edition of the WBC.
WBN WBC: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
Photo: Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
