Padres prospect Leodalis de Vries confirmed he has been in contact with the Netherlands baseball federation regarding the possibility of representing them in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In an interview this past weekend in Atlanta with Dominican media outlet El Nuevo Diario, de Vries acknowledged preliminary discussions but emphasized that nothing has been finalized.
“There are chances that anything can happen for next year. We have had a small conversation, but there is still nothing concrete,” de Vries said.
Earlier this year, de Vries acquired Dutch citizenship through his paternal grandparents, making him eligible to represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands not only in the WBC, but potentially at the 2028 Olympics as well.
The 18-year-old shortstop from Azua, Dominican Republic, is currently ranked as MLB’s No. 3 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. He’s playing for the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, where he’s hitting .248/.359/.406 with six home runs this season. Known for his advanced plate discipline, de Vries leads all High-A players under 20 with a 14.2% walk rate. In fact, he’s one of just three players under 20 at that level with a 10% walk rate or higher.
Should he join the Netherlands roster, de Vries would likely be the team’s starting shortstop despite his youth—potentially shifting veteran Xander Bogaerts to third or second base. His presence would provide a significant infusion of youth to a team that lacked it during the 2023 tournament. Other key players who could join him include Bogaerts, Jurickson Profar, Orioles catcher Chadwick Tromp, Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and former MLB infielder Jonathan Schoop.
Ceddanne Rafaela Commits to Kingdom of the Netherlands For 2026 WBC
Adding de Vries could make this one of the most talented Dutch rosters ever assembled for the WBC. The team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 showing, where they were eliminated in pool play on a tiebreaker—despite being favored to reach the quarterfinals.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands will begin their 2026 campaign with a marquee matchup against Venezuela on March 6 in Miami. The result could prove decisive in determining who advances from Pool D, which also includes Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Israel.
While the Netherlands won’t be the favorite to advance, the emergence of Leodalis de Vries could be a game-changer—and potentially serve as his breakout moment on the global stage.
