According to Miguel Lugo of TUDN Sinaloa on June 5, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda will play for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for the second consecutive tournament.
🚨 ARANDA AL CLÁSICO MUNDIAL 🚨
Jonathan Aranda🇲🇽 confirmó que formará parte de la Selección Mexicana para el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol.
“Ya le dí mi palabra a Rodrigo López”. pic.twitter.com/SiYOqq9kXz
— Miguel Lugo (@_MiguelLugo) June 5, 2025
Aranda played in three games for Mexico at the 2023 WBC, batting .167 in six at-bats with one hit and three strikeouts.
Mexico lost 6-5 in the 2023 WBC semifinals to Japan on Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double to left-center field in the bottom of the ninth, earning the bronze medal.
Mexico will once again be managed by Benji Gil and will face Italy, Great Britain, Brazil, and the United States in Pool B from March 6-11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Lugo, who also broadcasts for the Tomateros de Culiacán of Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, reported that Aranda will play for the Yaquis de Obregón during the 2025-26 winter league season to prepare for the WBC.
🚨 ARANDA AL CLÁSICO MUNDIAL 🚨
Jonathan Aranda🇲🇽 confirmó que formará parte de la Selección Mexicana para el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol.
“Ya le dí mi palabra a Rodrigo López”. pic.twitter.com/SiYOqq9kXz
— Miguel Lugo (@_MiguelLugo) June 5, 2025
The Yaquis will open their LAMP season on the road October 16 against the Cañeros de Los Mochis at Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada in Los Mochis, Sinaloa. No start times have been announced yet.
The 27-year-old left-handed hitter from Tijuana, Mexico, signed with Tampa Bay as an international free agent on July 2, 2015, and made his Major League debut on June 24, 2022, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This season, Aranda has played in 56 games with 210 plate appearances and is batting .326 with 59 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, 32 RBI, 23 walks, 50 strikeouts, and a .923 OPS entering Thursday’s home game against the Texas Rangers.
Aranda went hitless in three at-bats Thursday night, but scored a run, drew a walk, and struck out once in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win.
During the 2024-25 LAMP season, Aranda played 26 games with the Yaquis, hitting .309/.430/.617 in 115 plate appearances with 29 hits, seven doubles, two triples, six home runs, 19 RBI, 16 walks, and 19 strikeouts.
He fractured his right ring finger on March 27, 2024, and was placed on the 10-day injured list. In 2024, he split time between Triple-A Durham and the Rays.
With Durham, Aranda hit .237/.368/.424 across 32 games and 144 plate appearances, collecting 28 hits, one double, seven home runs, 19 RBI, 23 walks, and 47 strikeouts.
With the Rays, he appeared in 44 games and batted .234/.308/.430 with 143 plate appearances, 30 hits, seven doubles, six home runs, 14 RBI, 12 walks, and 32 strikeouts.
Across four Major League seasons with Tampa Bay, Aranda has played in 166 games, batting .262 with 124 hits, 27 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, 65 RBI, 56 walks, 136 strikeouts, and a .780 OPS prior to Thursday’s game.
The 33-29 Rays will begin a three-game home series at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., against the 23-37 Miami Marlins on Friday, June 6 at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Mexico Roster Build-Up for 2026 WBC
Federación Mexicana de Béisbol officials will evaluate talent across professional leagues in Japan (NPB), Korea (KBO), Taiwan (CPBL), the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the 2025-26 LAMP season, as well as players in the Caribbean and Australia, to build a strong roster for Pool B at the 2026 WBC.
FEMEBE president Enrique Mayorga, manager Benji Gil, general manager Rodrigo López, sports manager Jorge Campillo, and operations manager Mariana Patraca will make roster decisions over the course of the 2025 season.
LMB statistics and standings for the league’s 100th year of operation are available here.
Leif Skodnick of World Baseball Network outlined several pitchers, relievers, and position players who could factor into Mexico’s 2026 WBC roster.
Key offensive returnees or additions could include Randy Arozarena, Ramón Urías, Luis Urías, Jarren Duran, Joey Meneses, Rosman Verdugo, Rowdy Téllez, Marcelo Mayer, Brandon Valenzuela, Juan Carlos Gamboa, Mateo Gil, Isaac Paredes, Alexis Wilson, Luis González, Alek Thomas, Jared Serna, and Alex Verdugo.
Possible pitchers and relievers include Luis Cessa, Omar Cruz, Manny Barreda, Andrés Muñoz, Giovanny Gallegos, Taijuan Walker, Jeter Martínez, Humberto Cruz, Alejandro Osuna, Víctor Vargas, Javier Assad, Aldo Montes, Christian Romero, Manuel Rodríguez, Jorge Pérez, Jake Sánchez, David Reyes, José Urquidy, Adrián Martínez, Patrick Sandoval, and Gerardo Reyes.
Mexico reached the semifinals at the 2023 WBC before falling 6-5 to Japan at loanDepot Park on Murakami’s game-winning double in the ninth inning.
World Baseball Classic Overview
Japan leads all nations with three WBC titles (2006, 2009, 2023). The United States (2017) and Dominican Republic (2013) are the only other countries to win since the tournament began in 2006.
The WBC is organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, in partnership with MLB, the MLB Players Association, and WBCI.
All 2026 WBC pool matchups and venues are listed on the official World Baseball Classic website. No game times have been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
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.
Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11 in Pool D.
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 on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
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.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/venues with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
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
Information On 2025-26 LAMP Regular Season
All the listed information for games to watch live in Mexico and in the United States are located on https://www.lmp.mx/noticias/la-liga-arco-mexicana-del-pacifico-regresa-a-mega.
Games that are outside of Mexico can be streamed on their https://www.youtube.com/@LigaArcoMX for the 2025-26 LAMP season until the final out of the best-of-seven championship series in January. All information to subscribe for the 2025-26 LAMP streaming package is located on https://www.lmp.mx/tv/home.
2025-26 LAMP Regular Season Home Stadiums
Jaguares de Nayarit – Estadio Santa Teresita
Tucson Baseball Team – Kino Sports Complex at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Naranjeros de Hermosillo – Estadio Fernando Valenzuela
Aguilas de Mexicali – El Nido de los Águilas
Venados de Mazatlán – Estadio Teodoro Mariscal
Charros de Jalisco – Estadio Panamericano de Béisbol
Algodoneros de Guasave – Kuroda Park
Tomateros de Culiacán – Estadio Tomateros
Yaquis de Obregón – Estadio Yaquis
Cañeros de Los Mochis – Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada
2025-26 LAMP Opening Dates Schedule
October 14
Aguilas de Mexicali vs. Charros de Jalisco – Estadio Panamericano de Béisbol
October 15
Venados de Mazatlán vs. Jaguares de Nayarit – Estadio Santa Teresita
Yaquis de Obregon vs. Cañeros de Los Mochis – Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada
Tucson vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo – Estadio Fernando Valenzuela
Tomateros de Culiacán vs. Algodoneros de Guasave – Kuroda Park
Charros de Jalisco vs. Aguilas de Mexicali – El Nido de Los Águilas
October 16
Jaguares de Nayarit vs. Venados de Mazatlán – Estadio Teodoro Mariscal
Cañeros de Los Mochis vs. Yaquis de Obregón – Estadio Yaquis
Naranjeros de Hermosillo vs. Tucson Baseball Team – Kino Sports Complex at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Algodoneros de Guasave vs. Tomateros de Culiacán – Estadio Tomateros
Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda, right, celebrates after scoring on a single by Jake Mangum off Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
