Despite the potential of Puerto Rico potentially pulling out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the commonwealth will host a team this coming March. However, Puerto Rico’s roster will look drastically different, compared to the teams that were fielded back in 2017 and 2023.

Pitchers

• LHP Raymond Burgos
• RHP Fernando Cruz (Yankees)
• RHP Jose De Leon
• RHP Edwin Diaz (Dodgers)
• RHP Jose Espada (Orioles)
• RHP Rico Garcia (Orioles)
• RHP Seth Lugo (Royals)
• RHP Jorge Lopez
• LHP Jovani Moran (Red Sox)
• RHP Luis Quinones (Twins)
• RHP Angel Reyes
• LHP Eduardo Rivera (Red Sox)
• LHP Gabriel Rodriguez
• RHP Elmer Rodriguez (Yankees)
• RHP Yacksel Rios
• RHP Ricardo Velez (Rangers)

One of the themes for Puerto Rico this year is the lack of available players. The country won’t have Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan, two stalwarts of Puerto Rico’s national team during the 2017 and 2023 events. However, there will still be familiar faces.

Seth Lugo, who starred for Puerto Rico in 2017, is back for 2026. Lugo has been one of the Majors’ more consistent starters over the last three seasons. He’s not a big swing-and-miss pitcher but gives opposing hitters different looks thanks a vast arsenal.

Lugo struck out 12 batters over 15 innings in the 2017 events. He did not pitch in 2023, the same year that the righty re-transitioned into a starting pitcher role.

Jose De Leon, who has a good amount of MLB experience, most recently last year with the Red Sox, is also a starting pitcher option. As is Elmer Rodriguez, one of the top pitchers in the Yankees system and a very effective groundball pitcher.

Left-hander Eduardo Rivera had a great overall year between High-A and Low-A last season. Rivera struck out 108 batters over 87 combined innings, and opposing batters hit just .177 off him.

Puerto Rico’s bullpen is in better shape. Fernando Cruz, one of the best splitter pitchers in the game today, will join Edwin Diaz to headline that bullpen. Diaz infamously suffered a season-ending leg injury in the last WBC.

Rico Garcia, Jovani Moran, and Jorge Lopez are also pitchers with MLB experience.

Catchers

• C Martin Maldonado
• C Christian Vazquez

It’s the same catching group from 2023.

Martin Maldonado, retired from Major League Baseball, has many years of MLB experience and was a strong backstop behind the plate. He’ll be joined by ex-Twins catcher Christian Vazquez.

Infielders

• 3B Nolan Arenado (Diamondbacks)
• INF Edwin Arroyo (Reds)
• INF Darell Hernaiz (Athletics)
• INF Emmanuel Rivera
• INF Luis Vazquez (Orioles)

This is where Puerto Rico will look dramatically different. Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javier Baez, three pillars of the national team, are not on the 2026 roster.

Correa and Lindor, both of whom had their injury troubles in 2025, were denied coverage to play in the 2026 WBC. That point is moot, though, for Lindor, who suffered a hamate bone fracture and may miss Opening Day 2026. As for Baez, he is ineligible to play after testing positive for marijuana.

Additionally, Enrique Hernandez won’t play for Puerto Rico, either. Hernandez announced in November that he had elbow surgery and will be unable to suit up for the country.

Nolan Arenado, who suited up for the United States in the 2017 and 2023 events, will suit for Puerto Rico. This move is not uncommon. Adam Ottavino previously pitched for the U.S. but will pitch for Italy this time around. Marcus Stroman, a teammate of Arenado in 2017, pitched for Puerto Rico in the last WBC.

Aside from Arenado, three of the other four infielders have MLB experience. Edwin Arroyo doesn’t but he is one of the more notable prospects in the Reds system.

Outfielders

• INF/OF Willi Castro (Rockies)
• INF/OF Carlos Cortes (Athletics)
• OF Matthew Lugo (Angels)
• LF MJ Melendez (Mets)
• OF Heliot Ramos (Giants)
• LF Eddie Rosario
• OF Bryan Torres (Cardinals)

All but one of Team Puerto Rico’s outfielders has MLB experience.

Willi Castro and Heliot Ramos, two of the country’s best hitters on paper, will look to create and drive in runs. Those two will be joined by power-hitting outfielder MJ Melendez, as well as Eddie Rosario. Rosario hit a team-high two home runs in the last WBC.

Bryan Torres had a great 2025 in Triple-A Memphis, as the 5’7” prospect posted an OPS north of .900 for the Redbirds. That season earned Torres a spot on the St. Louis 40-man roster.

Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at Team Panama.