Nolan Arenado, the Arizona Diamondbacks' newest third baseman, is set to represent Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This decision comes as a surprise, considering Arenado's recent acquisition by the Diamondbacks from the St. Louis Cardinals. But here's where it gets interesting: Arenado's mother is of Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage, which opens up a fascinating discussion on nationality and baseball loyalties.
In 2017, Arenado played for Team USA, which defeated Puerto Rico in the finals to win the World Baseball Classic title. This victory might have been a factor in his decision to represent Puerto Rico in the 2026 tournament. However, Arenado's switch of nationalities is not unprecedented. Pitcher Marcus Stroman, who was named MVP for Team USA in 2017, also played for Puerto Rico in the 2023 tournament.
The Diamondbacks have a few other players with international ties. Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo will play for the Dominican Republic, Corbin Carroll will suit up for Team USA, and Eduardo Rodriguez will represent Venezuela. The 2026 World Baseball Classic will see Puerto Rico competing in Pool A alongside Canada, Colombia, Cuba, and Panama. Their group stage games will be held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The tournament runs from March 6-17, with the championship game in Miami. Unlike previous years, no games will be held in Arizona, but some nations will play tune-up exhibition games in the Valley before the tournament begins. Puerto Rico, which finished second in 2017 and 2019, fell to Mexico in the quarterfinals in 2023. Will they be able to bounce back and make a strong showing in 2026? Only time will tell. Follow @veenstra_david for more updates on this exciting tournament.
