Team Puerto Rico came just shy of winning it all in 2017, as the island finished as the runner-up in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. That 2017 team was a young one, and much of that group will be back for 2023. So, how does Puerto Rico shape up for the WBC? Let’s take a look at Puerto Rico’s roster.
Related: Which countries have the best chance of winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
Pitchers
- Jonathan Bermudez
- José Berríos
- Alex Claudio
- Fernando Cruz
- Jose De Leon
- Alexis Diaz
- Edwin Díaz
- Jose Espada
- Dominic Hamel
- Jorge López
- Anthony Maldonado
- Jovani Moran
- Nicholas Padilla
- Emilio Pagán
- Luis Quinones
- Yacksel Ríos
- Dereck Rodriguez
- Hector Santiago
- Marcus Stroman
- Duane Underwood Jr.
No Seth Lugo for this World Baseball Classic, but Team Puerto Rico’s rotation should be good enough to compete for the title in 2023. The starting staff is headlined by Marcus Stroman — who will pitch for Puerto Rico in 2023 after he spent the 2017 WBC as a member of Team USA — and José Berríos. For Berríos, the WBC will serve as the starting point for what the right-hander hopes to be a bounce-back season. Last year with the Blue Jays, the 28-year-old owned a 5.23 ERA over 172 innings.
And as expected, the bullpen should be stout for Puerto Rico. Twins relievers Emilio Pagán and Jorge López will serve as key pieces of the middle-relief core, with closers Alexis and Edwin Díaz set to be late-inning options. Edwin Díaz should be the closer for Puerto Rico, after a 2022 campaign that saw the electric righty win the NL Reliever of the Year award.
Position Players
- Javier Báez (INF)
- Edwin Diaz (INF)
- Enrique Hernandez (INF/OF)
- Francisco Lindor (INF)
- Vimael Machin (INF)
- Martín Maldonado (C)
- MJ Melendez (C)
- Jose Miranda (INF)
- Henry Ramos (OF)
- Emmanuel Rivera (INF)
- Eddie Rosario (OF)
- Neftali Soto (INF)
- Christian Vázquez (C)
- Nelson Velazquez (OF)
Puerto Rico will not have star shortstop Carlos Correa, who opted out due to the impending birth of his child. While Puerto Rico will miss his bat, the island still boasts a very solid infield. Javier Báez and Francisco Lindor will comprise the middle infield, with Twins infielder Jose Miranda set to play at one of the corners. Miranda did quite well in his first season in the Majors, as the 1B/3B hit .268/.325/.426 with 15 home runs and 40 extra base hits over 483 PA for Minnesota last season.
Puerto Rico’s outfield is a question mark, as both Eddie Rosario and Enrique Hernandez struggled last season for the Braves and Red Sox, respectively. Rosario hit just five home runs in 80 games, and posted a career-low .212 batting average in 2022. Hernandez, meanwhile, hit .222/.291/.338 last season, a year after clubbing 20 home runs for the Red Sox.
Team Puerto Rico has the pitching staff to mark a march to the final, much like in 2017. But, the key will be whether this group can hit enough, against the other world powers.
