Breaking Down Pool A of the World Baseball Classic
Pool A is the most balanced group in the entire WBC.
Let’s analyze which countries are even in this thing.
As mentioned earlier, there are 20 nations that are split into four groups of five. Pool A, which will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico, features Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Pool B, which will be played at Daikin Park – the home of the Houston Astros – features Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, and the United States. Pool C (my personal favorite group), which will be played in Tokyo, Japan, at the Tokyo Dome, features Australia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Czechia, Japan, and Korea. Finally, Pool D, which will be played in Miami at loanDepot Park, features the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
Here’s a handy-dandy chart that makes that a whole lot more legible:
Doing a deep-dive analysis of each of these rosters would be an arduous task for a team of 15 writers, let alone one simple 23-year-old who’s juggling many different responsibilities. Still, it’s important to at least touch on each one, so that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. Each team will get a paragraph – at most – or a single sentence – at least. If that doesn’t suffice, I’m sure that there’s some article out there somewhere – probably written by a really smart man in a tuxedo who works on the top of a big, tall tower in New York City – that covers all 20 countries participating in the World Baseball Classic at a comprehensive-but-slightly-unhinged level.
Today we’ll be covering the five teams – Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico – that make up Pool A, which will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Note: The projected starting lineups are mine (with some help by the great Shawn Spradling). For the most part, it’s based off merit and vibes. That’s just how I operate.
One more note, I promise: Players with MLB experience are in bold and italics. Players with other major professional experience (NPB or KBO) are in bold. Players with MiLB experience are in italics. If a player has major professional experience (MLB unless expressed otherwise), his last season’s statistics (2025 unless expressed otherwise) will be in parentheticals next to his name.
Just one more note, pretty please: For anybody that’s not familiar with baseball statistics and what they mean, click here to get a good summary of what a slash line (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage), OPS, home runs, and runs batted in entail. For anybody that’s on their high horse wondering why I’d need to include such a thing, 1) respect the newbies that just want to read something about Colombia’s roster, and 2) get off that high horse! You’ll fall off anyway so might as well get down.
Additional note, I promise this is the last note: These lineups and rotations are PROJECTED. Everything is subject to change.
Canada
Projected starting position players
Bo Naylor, C (.195/.282/.379 [.661 OPS], 14 HR, 47 RBI)
Josh Naylor, 1B (.295/.353/.462 [.816 OPS], 20 HR, 92 RBI)
Edouard Julien, 2B (.220/.309/.324 [.633 OPS], 3 HR, 12 RBI)
Abraham Toro, 3B (.239/.289/.371 [.659 OPS], 7 HR, 27 RBI)
Otto Lopez, SS (.246/.305/.368 [.672 OPS], 15 HR, 77 RBI)
Tyler O’Neill, LF (.199/.292/.392 [.684 OPS], 9 HR, 26 RBI)
Denzel Clarke, CF (.230/.274/.372 [.646 OPS], 3 HR, 8 RBI)
Owen Caissie, RF (.192/.222/.346 [.568 OPS], 1 HR, 4 RBI)
Jared Young, DH (.186/.234/.488 [.722 OPS], 4 HR, 6 RBI)
Projected rotation
Jameson Taillon, RHP (3.68 ERA, 129.2 IP, 98 K, 27 BB, 110 H)
Michael Soroka, RHP (4.52 ERA, 89.2 IP, 95 K, 29 BB, 72 H)
Cal Quantrill, RHP (6.04 ERA, 117.2 IP, 85 K, 35 BB, 136 H)
Logan Allen, LHP (5.46 ERA, 28 IP, 21 K, 10 BB, 32 H in 2024)
Schedule
Colombia, 11 a.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)
Panama, 7 p.m. ET (Sunday, March 8)
Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET (Tuesday, March 10)
Cuba, 3 p.m. ET (Wednesday, March 11)
Canadian baseball talent has increased over the years, and this year’s WBC team is much improved from the one that took the field in 2023. That’s especially evident in the lineup, which is filled with Major League talent from top to bottom. The Naylor brothers are the obvious centerpieces, with Josh, who is coming off a fantastic season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, leading the charge. I’m a massive fan of the rest of the infield, though I do have some reservations about the outfield — Denzel Clarke notwithstanding (I think that guy is amazing). Canada’s limitations are on the mound, however. Apart from Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka, there aren’t any other bona fide starters that manager Ernie Whitt can throw out there. Then there’s the bullpen, which only features one player — Rob Zastryzny — who appeared in an MLB game last year. With how important bullpens are in the WBC, it’s hard to imagine Canada making a super-far run with those constraints. That being said, this is the best roster the nation’s assembled in its six trips to the tournament, and it is poised to capitalize on that in what is a pretty weak group — at least in comparison to what Canada has faced in the past.
Colombia
Projected starting position players
Elías Díaz, C (.204/.270/.337 [.607 OPS], 9 HR, 29 RBI)
Reynaldo Rodríguez, 1B
Michael Arroyo, 2B
Gio Urshela, 3B (.238/.287/.326 [.613 OPS], 0 HR, 20 RBI)
Dayan Frías, SS
Gustavo Campero, LF (.172/.273/.345 [.618 OPS], 3 HR, 8 RBI)
Brayan Buelvas, CF
Harold Ramírez, RF (.261/.280/.324 [.604 OPS], 2 HR, 29 RBI in 2024)
Donovan Solano, DH (.247/.291/.337 [.628 OPS], 3 HR, 21 RBI)
Projected rotation
José Quintana, LHP (3.96 ERA, 131.2 IP, 89 K, 50 BB, 120 H)
Adrián Almeida
Julio Teherán (13.50 ERA, 2.2 IP, 3 K, 2 BB, 6 H in 2024)
Luis Patiño, RHP (4.57 ERA, 21.2 IP, 18 K, 14 BB, 21 H)
Schedule
Puerto Rico, 6 p.m. ET (Friday, March 6)
Canada, 11 a.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)
Cuba, 12 p.m. ET (Sunday, March 8)
Panama, 12 p.m. ET (Monday, March 9)
I saw Julio Teherán pitch for the Atlanta Braves on May 31, 2013, against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. He allowed three runs on seven hits over the course of 6 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked one. I’m certain my family left before the game was over, but I can’t remember. Anyway, that personal anecdote is all I really have to say about this Colombian team.
OK, that’s a joke. There are some things to like about this Colombian squad. For instance, José Quintana is a good MLB pitcher who has had success in the WBC in the past. Gio Urshela, Elías Díaz, and Donovan Solano are more than capable hitters, with Jorge Alfaro, who could be an option at catcher or DH, also providing some pop off the bench. I’m still not bullish on their chances, though. Sure, Colombia can go out there and win a game or two but making a run to the semifinals seems unlikely. Prove me wrong, Colombia!
Cuba
Projected starting position players
Omar Hernández, C
Ariel Martínez, 1B (.241/.299/.471 [.770 OPS], 10 HR, 32 RBI in NPB)
Yiddi Cappe, 2B
Yoan Moncada, 3B (.234/.336/.448 [.783 OPS], 12 HR, 35 RBI)
Erisbel Arruebarruena, SS (.195/.244/.220 [.464 OPS], 0 HR, 4 RBI in 2014)
Yoelkis Guibert, LF
Roel Santos, CF
Yoel Yanqui, RF
Alfredo Despaigne, DH (.239/.453/.391 [.844 OPS], 8 HR, 30 RBI in 2023 in NPB)
Projected rotation
Liván Moinelo, LHP (1.46 ERA, 167 IP, 172 K, 42 BB, 112 H in NPB)
Josimar Cousín, RHP
Julio Robaina, LHP
Denny Larrondo, RHP
Schedule
Panama, 11 a.m. ET (Friday, March 6)
Colombia, 12 p.m. ET (Sunday, March 8)
Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET (Monday, March 9)
Canada, 3 p.m. ET (Wednesday, March 11)
The days of Cuban baseball dominance in international play are over. For a variety of factors — both political and developmental — Cuba has failed to contribute the same amount of formidable baseball talent over the past several years, which has led to a downward trend in its performance at international events. Add in the fact that many of Cuba’s best players just straight-up refuse to play for the country — again, politics — and the roster becomes a sad affair. Yoan Moncada is probably the most well-known name in the lineup, and Liván Moinelo is probably the best pitcher in the NPB. That isn’t enough to win the WBC, though, so color me surprised if Cuba makes it out of Pool A.
Panama
Projected starting position players
Miguel Amaya, C (.281/.314/.500 [.814 OPS], 4 HR, 25 RBI)
Johan Camargo, 1B (.222/.300/.222 [.522 OPS], 0 HR, 2 RBI in 2023)
Leonardo Jiménez, 2B (.069/.129/.172 [.301 OPS], 1 HR, 1 RBI)
Edmundo Sosa, 3B (.276/.307/.469 [.777 OPS], 11 HR, 39 RBI)
José Caballero, SS (.236/.339/.347 [.686 OPS], 5 HR, 36 RBI)
Allen Córdoba, LF (.208/.282/.297 [.579 OPS], 4 HR, 15 RBI in 2017)
Enrique Bradfield Jr., CF
José Ramos, RF
Christian Bethancourt, DH (.209/.241/.367 [.608 OPS], 5 HR, 22 RBI in 2024)
Projected rotation
Logan Allen, LHP (4.25 ERA, 156.2 IP, 122 K, 62 BB, 157 H)
Ariel Jurado, RHP (11.25 ERA, 4 IP, 2 K, 0 BB, 9 H in 2020)
Humberto Mejía, RHP (7.25 ERA, 22.1 IP, 20 K, 9 BB, 32 H in 2021)
Jaime Barría, RHP (5.68 ERA, 82.1 IP, 62 K, 30 BB, 91 H in 2023)
Schedule
Cuba, 11 a.m. ET (Friday, March 6)
Puerto Rico, 6 p.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)
Canada, 7 p.m. ET (Sunday, March 8)
Colombia, 12 p.m. ET (Monday, March 9)
This Panamanian group is underrated. Miguel Amaya is a dude, Edmundo Sosa is more than capable, and Logan Allen is one of the better starters in the whole tournament. That’s more than some other teams in the WBC can boast about on their roster, which definitely separates Panama from the bottom of the pack. As such, it is my opinion that if any team is going to challenge Puerto Rico — or perhaps even Canada — for the top spot in Pool A, it’ll be Panama. Throw tomatoes at me all you want; I think that this team has the capability to surprise some people over the next week.
Puerto Rico
Projected starting position players
Martín Maldonado, C (.204/.245/.327 [.572 OPS], 4 HR, 12 RBI)
Emmanuel Rivera, 1B (.250/.291/.283 [.575 OPS], 0 HR, 13 RBI)
Willi Castro, 2B (.226/.313/.366 [.679 OPS], 11 HR, 33 RBI)
Nolan Arenado, 3B (.237/.289/.377 [.666 OPS], 12 HR, 52 RBI)
Darel Hernaiz, SS (.231/.292/.306 [.599 OPS], 2 HR, 16 RBI]
Matthew Lugo, LF (.232/.243/.464 [.707 OPS], 4 HR, 9 RBI]
Bryan Torres, CF
Carlos Cortés/MJ Meléndez, RF (.309/.323/.543 [.866 OPS], 4 HR, 14 RBI)/(.083/.154/.167 [.321 OPS], 1 HR, 1 RBI)
Heliot Ramos, DH (.256/.328/.400 [.728 OPS], 21 HR, 69 RBI)
Projected rotation
Seth Lugo, RHP (4.15 ERA, 145.1 IP, 125 K, 55 BB, 133 H)
Elmer Rodríguez, RHP
Eduardo Rivera, LHP
José de León, RHP (4.05 ERA, 6.2 IP, 8 K, 3 BB, 8 H)
Schedule
Colombia, 6 p.m. ET (Friday, March 6)
Panama, 6 p.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)
Cuba, 7 p.m. ET (Monday, March 9)
Canada, 7 p.m. ET (Tuesday, March 10)
One of the many things holding the WBC back from greatness is insurance. Don’t believe me? All it takes is one look at the players who aren’t on Puerto Rico’s roster to see that insurance is the real stealer of joy in 2026. Several of Puerto Rico’s key pieces, like Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javier Baez, failed to obtain the proper insurance to play in the event, rendering their participation impossible. That has led to this Puerto Rico squad being a shell of what it could’ve been.
That’s really sad, so I’d like to take a moment and acknowledge a really cool story instead. Bryan Torres, who is slated to start in center field for the Puerto Ricans, is probably the most feel-good underdog story of the WBC. Just three years ago, Torres — after failing to cement a place in affiliated ball — was playing independent baseball in the American Association with the Milwaukee Milkmen. He absolutely tore up the league, hitting .374 in 2022 and .370 in 2023. As a result, the St. Louis Cardinals signed him and sent him to Double-A. He dominated there, earning a spot in Triple-A in 2025, where he once again couldn’t stop hitting the baseball. Now he’s on Team Puerto Rico, and he’ll probably get called up to the big leagues to play for what should be a pretty miserable Cardinals club. It’s these types of stories that make the WBC special — players achieving their childhood dreams of representing their country getting the opportunity to do so on one of baseball’s grandest stages. Even the least emotional of us tear up at the thought of it.
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