12 Blue Jays represent 11 different countries at World Baseball Classic

Canada's team will send 12 players to baseball's version of the World Cup, representing 11 different countries; there are 20 nations in total.

The big ones have been talked about already. Ernie Clement, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Alejandro Kirk will suit up for the United States, Dominican Republic, and Mexico respectively, while Adam Macko will make his debut for Team Canada.

But there are others as well.

Shortstop Andres Gimenez will play for Team Venezuela, while marquee offseason signing Kazuma Okamoto will represent Japan. Longtime Blue Jays infielder Leo Jimenez will suit up for Panama, while reliever Yariel Rodriguez will sport the colours of Cuba.

Deeper in the farm system, other prospects are showing their national pride as well. IFA signing Ismael Munguia will play for Nicaragua, while low-minors catcher Willis Cresswell be behind the dish for Great Britain.

Finally, breakthrough outfield prospect RJ Schreck will be one of two Blue Jays to represent Team Israel, along with recently-signed catcher CJ Stubbs.

Former Blue Jays Phillippe Aumont and Otto Lopez will also be on the roster for Team Canada.

Additionally, former Blue Jays Yusei Kikuchi, Hyun Jin Ryu, Seranthony Dominguez, Rowdy Tellez, Spencer Horwitz, Gio Urshela, Harold Ramirez, Jon Berti, Eric Pardinho, José De León, and Graham Spraker were all officially named to WBC rosters.

Global appetite for the 2026 edition will be high, following the record-setting television ratings for 2023, which culminated in a Mike Trout-Shohei Ohtani faceoff that was ultimately by the Japanese superstar.

The 2026 Edition of the World Baseball Classic runs from March 5th-17th.

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