Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez has been given permission to pitch for Cuba at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reported Thursday.
A native of Camaguey, Cuba, Rodriguez will be working out of the bullpen for Cuba and will be limited to two innings per appearance, Romero reported in a post on the social media X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sources: Yariel Rodríguez will join Team Cuba for the 2026 World Baseball Classic after receiving approval from the Blue Jays.
He is scheduled to report to the team on March 1 in Arizona.
Rodríguez will work exclusively out of the bullpen, not exceeding two innings per game.
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 22, 2026
Rodriguez, 28, pitched for Cuba at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 and the 2023 World Baseball Classic before leaving the Chunichi Dragons of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, walking away from a contract negotiated by the Federacion Cubana de Beisbol y Softbol to pursue a career in Major League Baseball. His return to pitch for Cuba in the 2026 World Baseball Classic would be the first time that a player who defected, walked away from the national team, or reneged on a contract negotiated by the FCBS had been allowed to return to play for Cuba.
At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez threw 7 1/3 innings over two starts, allowing two runs on five hits, walking six and striking out 10 with a WHIP of 1.500. Rodriguez signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in October of that year, and made his MLB debut in 2024, throwing 86 2/3 innings over 21 starts for the Jays, posting a 4.47 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 40 walks. He made 66 appearances for Toronto in 2025, 65 of them coming in relief, where the 6-foot, 165-pound righty had a 3.08 ERA in 73 innings of work, striking out 66 and walking 34 with a 1.151 WHIP in a similar role to the one he likely will play for Cuba at this year’s classic.
Exhibition Schedule For Cuba’s Tour Of Nicaragua Announced – Cuba will prepare for the 2026 World Baseball Classic with a training camp and slate of four exhibition games in Nicaragua in February. Each game will be played at a different stadium, with games planned for Feb. 19 at Estadio Roberto Clemente in Masaya, Feb. 22 at Estadio Rigoberto Lopez in Leon, Feb. 25 at Estadio Yamil Rios Ugarte in Rivas, and on Feb. 27 at Estadio Nacional Soberania in Managua.
Cuba and Nicaragua Exhibition Schedule
All times local
Thursday, Feb. 19
6 p.m. – Cuba at Nicaragua – Estadio Roberto Clemente – Masaya, Nicaragua
Sunday, Feb. 22
4 p.m. – Cuba at Nicaragua – Estadio Rigoberto Lopez – Leon, Nicaragua
Wednesday, Feb. 25
6 p.m. – Cuba at Nicaragua – Estadio Yamil Rios Ugarte – Rivas, Nicaragua
Friday, Feb. 27
6 p.m. – Cuba at Nicaragua – Estadio Nacional Soberania – Managua, Nicaragua
Photo: Yariel Rodriguez #29 of Team Cuba reacts while leaving the mound in the third inning during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinal game between Team Australia and Team Cuba at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Yuki Taguchi/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
