When the World Baseball Classic begins, several Orioles will have the chance to stand out in the international tournament.
MLB announced Thursday the full rosters for the 2026 WBC, which will pit representatives of 20 countries against each other in a tournament from March 5 to 17. The Orioles had 10 players from their organization included, highlighted by shortstop Gunnar Henderson (Team USA), outfielder Tyler O’Neill (Canada) and right-hander Dean Kremer (Israel).
Orioles relievers Rico Garcia and Jose Espada will also play for Puerto Rico and outfield prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr., their first-round pick in 2023, will suit up with Team Panama. Bradfield was listed as the Orioles’ No. 8 overall prospect by Baseball America heading into this season. He has only 15 games’ experience at the Triple-A level but played in the Arizona Fall League after last season and hit .221 with 17 stolen bases and a .341 on-base percentage in 20 games.
The other four players also come from Baltimore’s minor league ranks: infielder Luis Vázquez (Puerto Rico), left-hander Micah Ashman (Canada), left-hander Naykel Cruz (Cuba) and right-hander Ryan Long (Great Britain). Vázquez appeared in 32 games for the Orioles last season and was designated for assignment this winter, accepting an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk in lieu of testing free agency.
Other participants in the WBC with Orioles connections include right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, who will join Team Japan, and Robinson Chirinos, their former bench coach who will hold the same title with Team Venezuela. Former Orioles infielders Manny Machado (Dominican Republic), Ramón Urías (Mexico), Emmanuel Rivera (Puerto Rico), Joey Ortiz (Mexico) and Jahmai Jones (Korea) and former Baltimore pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez (Venezuela), Gregory Soto (Dominican Republic) and Seranthony Domínguez (Dominican Republic) are slated to play in the tournament as well.
Henderson will don the No. 11 for the United States, giving up his usual No. 2 to the veteran Alex Bregman. Henderson is expected to compete for playing time at multiple infield positions amid a crowded Team USA roster. He will have to contend with Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop, Bregman and Ernie Clement at third base and perhaps Brice Turang at second.
“I was told we’ll rotate around then just whoever is swinging it the best at the time of whenever everything starts is who’s going to start,” Henderson said at the Orioles’ Birdland Caravan fan fest Jan. 23. “That’s what I was told and, yeah, looking forward to it.”
Team Japan is the defending WBC champion — and Shohei Ohtani is returning to represent his country once again — but the Japanese will have some worthy opposition in a stacked American roster that includes Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Mason Miller, Corbin Carroll and Logan Webb, among other stars.
The United States was placed in Pool B to begin the tournament, pitting it against Great Britain, Mexico, Brazil and Italy in the first round. Pool B will play its games in Houston with Tokyo, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico as the other host cities. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals before the final four teams meet in Miami to finish out the tournament.
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