During pool play, The Athletic will likely be publishing a each day Postcard from the WBC, which is able to characteristic studies from our writers who’re unfold throughout 4 cities (Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan) to cowl this yr’s event. The Athletic has stay protection of USA vs. Italy in World Baseball Classic 2026.
Sights and sounds
The legends round Team Dominican Republic
Video credit score: _losdominicanos on Instagram
With Nelson Cruz as basic supervisor and Albert Pujols as supervisor, the bar was already excessive for Team Dominican Republic on this World Baseball Classic. But Cruz and Pujols are removed from the solely dignitaries round the workforce.
Juan Marichal, the 88-year-old Hall of Famer, was there to bop with the workforce in the clubhouse after its 10-1 victory over Team Israel Monday.
David Ortiz, Adrián Beltré, Pedro Martinez and Juan Encarnación have roamed round the dugout earlier than video games, and behind the scenes, they’ve interacted with gamers and workers. Beltré talked third-base protection with Junior Caminero. Martínez gave tricks to a number of pitchers. Ortiz is the consummate director of vibes.
“Those tips are valuable,” shortstop Geraldo Perdomo stated, translated from Spanish. “They are veterans. They have vast experience, and they have been playing for so many years. They have been in World Series. … We don’t know when we are going to have that team of legends working at the same place at the same time (again).” — Cody Stavenhagen, reporting from Miami
A surprise retirement announcement
Colombia may not have performed at Hiram Bithorn Stadium these previous few days if Julio Teherán hadn’t taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the nation’s first recreation in the WBC qualifiers a yr in the past, setting the workforce up for a victory. The plan had been for him to reprise his beginning function in the actual factor … till a shoulder impingement cropped up in his pregame warmups on Saturday, making him a late scratch.
He gained’t get one other probability to pitch for Colombia as an energetic participant. Teherán, 35, introduced after the workforce’s win in its closing recreation of pool play that he had already thrown the final pitch of his profession.
Teherán pitched in 13 major-league seasons after debuting at age 20 with the Atlanta Braves in 2011. He was the Braves’ Opening Day starter from 2014-19, and people six consecutive appearances matched Warren Spahn for many in franchise historical past.
“Having the ball in all of the Opening Days was very special,” Teherán stated. “It was my biggest challenge year after year. It’s what kept me with that hunger year after year. I wanted to be the No. 1 representative, especially of the organization of the Atlanta Braves.” — Maria Torres, reporting from San Juan
Another emotional send-off
We don’t have to remind you of all the causes this event issues to the world of baseball. Since its inception 20 years in the past, we’ve seen its impression.
But anticipating a heartfelt second doesn’t imply you may’t get misty-eyed when one occurs.
Paolo Espino, a journeyman who was a Tenth-round pick of IMG Academy in 2006, introduced Saturday he was retiring after the Classic. Led by catcher Christian Bethancourt, the 39-year-old’s workforce orchestrated a second to recollect after he threw 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball in his closing begin as an energetic participant.
An emotional second right here in Puerto Rico. Panamanian pitcher Paolo Espino 🇵🇦 made the closing look of his profession:
4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 SO in the World Baseball Classic 2026.
A outstanding profession of greater than 20 years. pic.twitter.com/AYyRwzQeK7
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) March 9, 2026
Espino has performed internationally for his homeland since the first Classic in 2006. He’s pitched for all however one in all Panama’s WBC groups (2023) and in its two qualifiers. After lacking the 2023 event, he stated he wasn’t but prepared to think about retirement, however returning to the worldwide stage motivated him to proceed pitching regardless of having solely thrown in 97 major-league video games over six seasons since debuting in 2017 at age 30.
“More than anything, I was emotional after a good start,” he stated in Spanish on Monday. “My last batter was a strikeout. I’m really happy about everything I’ve accomplished in my career.” — Torres
Listen to The Athletic’s World Baseball Classic 2026 mixtape on Spotify
Around the horn
Dominican Republic 10, Israel 1: Team D.R. moved to 3-0 and clinched development. At 1-2, with a kind of losses coming to Venezuela, Israel was eradicated. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a grand slam and completed with six RBIs. Oneil Cruz hit his second dwelling run of the event as a fearsome Dominican Republic lineup dominated as soon as once more. — Stavenhagen
Colombia 4, Panama 3: Colombia salvaged its closing recreation of the basic by capitalizing on a bases-loaded state of affairs to push 4 runs throughout the plate in the sixth and holding Panama hitless by means of 5 2/3 innings. After José Caballero ended the no-hitter, Panama added a pair of RBI singles in the eighth to make it shut, however Pedro García retired 4 of Panama’s closing 5 batters, together with pinch hitter Jonathan Araúz, who led off the ninth and needed to be held again throughout a confrontation along with his supervisor after returning to the dugout. The loss ended Panama’s possibilities to advance to the quarterfinals in Houston. — Torres
Great Britain 8, Brazil 1: Both groups have already been eradicated from championship competition, however Great Britain’s win did qualify it for the subsequent World Baseball Classic. — Chandler Rome
Teams eradicated thus far:
Colombia
Panama
Great Britain
Brazil
Australia
Chinese Taipei
Czechia
Israel
Netherlands
Nicaragua
What’s on deck
Cuba at Puerto Rico, 7 p.m., FS1: The most anticipated matchup at Hiram Bithorn Stadium now has even greater stakes. Cuba and P.R. are the solely undefeated groups in Pool A with a recreation apiece remaining after Monday. Whoever wins will advance to the quarterfinals in Houston, whereas the different will struggle Canada (1-1) for the second spot. — Torres
Venezuela at Nicaragua. 7 p.m., FS2: Thanks to Team Dominican Republic’s win in opposition to Israel, Venezuela (2-0) has already clinched advancing from Pool D. Nicaragua (0-3) has been eradicated. However unlikely an upset is, Nicaragua has by no means gained a WBC recreation, so Dusty Baker’s workforce nonetheless has a probability to create a significant second. — Stavenhagen
Mexico at United States, 8 p.m. Fox: Paul Skenes will make his WBC debut in what will likely be a raucous ambiance in Houston, the place Team Mexico’s followers have stuffed the stands all through pool play. Mexico will run a bullpen recreation began by 37-year-old right-hander Manny Barreda, a former Yankees farmhand with 2 ⅔ innings of major-league expertise. Mexico has the most menacing lineup Team USA has seen to this point, that includes Randy Arozarena, Jarren Duran, Jonathan Aranda and Alejandro Kirk. Team USA has not crushed Mexico in WBC play since 2006 and can look to avenge an 11-5 loss in the 2023 event. — Rome
Japan at Czechia, 6 a.m., FS1: There are actually no stakes to this recreation. Japan has gained Pool D, and Czechia will end final. But the bond shaped between these international locations, and the David-Goliath element of their head-to-head, will make the recreation enjoyable, if not notably dramatic. — Sam Blum, reporting from Tokyo
