Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodriguez to pitch in World Baseball Classic
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Yariel Rodriguez will pitch for Team Cuba in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Yariel Rodriguez is set to return to the World Baseball Classic.
According to a report from Francys Romero, the Blue Jays have granted the 28-year-old right-hander permission to represent his home country in the tournament.
Rodriguez will be used strictly out of the bullpen and will be limited to a maximum of two innings per outing.
Sources: Yariel Rodriguez will join Team Cuba for the 2026 World Baseball Classic after receiving approval from the Blue Jays.
He is scheduled to report to the team on March 1 in Arizona.
Rodriguez will work exclusively out of the bullpen, not exceeding two innings per game.
He is scheduled to report to the team on March 1 in Arizona.
Rodriguez will work exclusively out of the bullpen, not exceeding two innings per game.
Rodriguez had an up and down season with Toronto in 2025
The Camagüey native was outrighted off of the Blue Jays' 40-man roster in early December but will report to spring training as a non-roster invitee.
Rodriguez signed with the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of the 2024 season on a five-year, $32 million contract after spending three seasons with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.
During the 2025 season, Rodriguez appeared in 66 games for the Blue Jays, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 73 innings. He recorded 66 strikeouts while issuing 34 walks.
NINETY NINE. WITH. RUN. The first Major League save for Yariel Rodriguez!
He also saw action in four postseason games during Toronto's run to the World Series.
Rodriguez did not allow a run in his first two appearances against the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series but surrendered runs in consecutive outings during the AL Championship Series versus the Seattle Mariners.
He was ultimately left off the World Series roster.
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