Looking at Team Czechia for the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Three years ago, Team Czechia clinched a spot in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and won a game, ensuring that the unlikely success story of baseball in Europe would live on in 2026. The Czechs are back in the WBC, and while the country will have some new faces, many of the players from the last tournament are back.

Pitchers

LHP Jeff Barto
RHP Filip Capka
LHP Tomas Duffek
LHP Lukas Ercoli
RHP Lukas Hlouch
RHP Filip Kollmann
RHP Michal Kovala
RHP Marek Minarik
LHP Jan Novak
RHP Tomas Ondra
RHP Daniel Padysak
RHP Ondrej Satoria
RHP Martin Schneider
RHP Ondrej Vank
RHP Boris Vecerka

Many of the notable pitchers from the 2023 team are back for 2026, including Tomas Duffek, Martin Schneider, Marek Minarik, Jan Novak, and Jeff Barto.

Schneider had a great time three years ago, as the right-hander gave up just two runs over seven innings in his one lone start. Minarik, who struck out six over 4.1 IP, notched the lone win for the Czechs in 2023.

Jeff Barto, a former college pitcher from Utah Valley State, gave up only one run in 5.2 IP.

Michal Kovala (Georgia Tech) and Daniel Padyask (Georgia) also have collegiate experience.

Catchers

C Mateous Bubenik
C Martin Cervenka
C Martin Zelenka

Former Guardians farmhand Martin Cervenka became one of the faces of Czech baseball over a decade ago.

Cervenka, who played in the last WBC for the country, spent 10 seasons in the Minors, capped at Triple-A. Most of that time was spent in the Cleveland organization, which signed him as an amateur free agent back in 2011.

But in the last WBC, Cervenka went just 1-15.

Martin Zelenka spent two years at UNC Wilmington.

Infielders

INF Martin Cervinka
INF Ryan Johson
INF Vojtech Mensik
INF Martin Muzik
INF Jan Pospisil
INF Milan Prokop
INF Terrin Vavra

During the last WBC, the Czechs benefited from having one former Major Leaguer, former Athletic Eric Sogard, on the roster. Sogard led the team with seven hits in 2023. But Sogard isn’t on the team this time around, Czechia will have another former Major Leaguer on hand.

Former Oriole Terrin Vavra is the only ex-Major League player on the Czech roster. Vavra has 68 games of MLB experience, all of which came with the O’s. The 28-year-old has a career slash line of .252/.329/.302.

Prokop, Muzuk, and Mensik all received at least one at-bat in the last event. Mensik finished with four hits in four games, while Musik had two, one of which was a home run.

Outfielders

OF Marek Chlup
OF Willie Escala
OF Marek Krejcirik
OF Max Prejda
OF Michal Sindelka

Willie Escala has collegiate experience, as the 27-year-old switched around between three schools. Escala spent two years with Miami (FL), then went to Barry University for two seasons. He finished in 2022 with Miami (OH).

Escala spent last season with Milwaukee in the American Association.

Marek Chlup had four hits for Czechia in 2023.

Check out more of our MLB content, including a look at Team Cuba.