Team Venezuela will look to avenge some rough memories from the 2023 World Baseball Classic in 2026. Venezuela has a strong overall roster, headlined by a former National League MVP, a multi-time batting champion, and some of the best fielders in baseball.

Pitchers

• LHP Jose Alvarado (Phillies)
• RHP Eduard Bazardo (Mariners)
• RHP Jose Butto (Giants)
• LHP Enmanuel De Jesus (Tigers)
• RHP Carlos Guzman (Mets)
• RHP Yoendrys Gomez (Rays)
• RHP Pablo Lopez (Twins)
• RHP Andres Machado
• RHP Keider Montero (Tigers)
• LHP Oddanier Mosqueda (Pirates)
• RHP German Marquez
• RHP Daniel Palencia (Cubs)
• LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (Diamondbacks)
• RHP Antonio Senzatela (Rockies)
• LHP Ranger Suarez (Red Sox)
• LHP Ricardo Sanchez
• LHP Angel Zerpa (Brewers)

If Team Venezuela is going to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the pitching staff will need to do its job.

Venezuela won’t have Jose Quijada or Martin Perez, the two pitchers who had significant trouble in the country’s loss to the United States in March 2023. However, the country will have Pablo Lopez back. Lopez pitched exceptionally well in the 2023 tournament, as he struck out six over 4.2 IP and gave up one run in his only outing.

Lopez will help lead a potential rotation that will likely include Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and new Red Sox Ranger Suarez.

Omar Lopez also has an impressive group of relievers. Jose Butto has a starter’s arsenal, while Angel Zerpa is an effective sinkerballer. Those two will be joined by Eduard Bazardo and two of the hardest throwers in this tournament: Jose Alvarado and Daniel Palencia.

Former Major League players Ricardo Sanchez and Andres Machado are also on Venezuela’s 2026 roster. Machado gave up four earned runs in .1 IP during the last event.

Catchers

• C William Contreras (Brewers)
• C Salvador Perez (Royals)

Venezuela’s position player core is heavy on right-handed hitters. That starts with the two catchers, although it’s hard to argue with who those two are.

William Contreras and Salvador Perez are two of the best offensive catchers in the game. The 35-year-old Perez hit 30 home runs last season for the Royals, only the second time in his illustrious career that he hit 30 or more in a single season.

As for Contreras, the 28-year-old went off in the second half of 2025. The Brewers catcher hit 11 home runs and posted a .833 OPS after the All-Star break.

Infielders

• 1B/2B Luis Arraez (Giants)
• 1B Willson Contreras (Red Sox)
• 3B Maikel Garcia (Royals)
• 2B/SS Andres Gimenez (Blue Jays)
• 3B Eugenio Suarez (Reds)
• 2B Gleyber Torres (Tigers)
• SS Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies)

As noted above, the Venezuela national team is thin on left-handed hitters. There are only three, two of which are among their infield core.

Luis Arraez went off in the 2023 WBC, as he hit two home runs to tie Anthony Santander for the team lead. He, along with Andres Gimenez, is among a stacked infield group.

Venezuela’s potential lineup could include Eugenio Suarez, who hit 49 home runs last season and is back with the Reds, Maikel Garcia — who set numerous career-bests — and Willson Contreras. Suarez, by the way, led Venezuela in hits (7) during the 2023 WBC.

Gleyber Torres and Ezequiel Tovar round out a deep crop of infielders.

Outfielders

• RF Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox)
• RF Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves)
• OF Jackson Chourio (Brewers)
• INF/OF Javier Sanoja (Marlins)

Venezuela only has three primary outfielders on the roster, although Javier Sanoja — an infielder/outfielder — can play in the outfield and is listed as one on the roster. No Anthony Santander but the three who are here are among the better offensive threats in the Majors.

We’ll start with Abreu, who posted a .334 wOBA (85th among the 242 MLB players with 350+ PA) last season and hit a career-best 22 home runs. Additionally, Abreu won an AL Gold Glove last season, the second-straight season he did so.

Chourio posted a 20-20 campaign for the second time in his short MLB career. He’ll be joined alongside Ronald Acuna Jr.

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