Could Pirates' Oneil Cruz Play In World Baseball Classic?

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates person conscionable a fewer weeks until Spring Training starts down astatine Pirate City successful Bradenton, Fla. successful early February, but that's not nan only important shot arena happening this spring.

The 2026 version of nan World Baseball Classic takes spot from March 5-17, pitting nan champion countries crossed nan globe successful a tourney to spot who is nan best.

Pittsburgh already has 1 typical astatine nan World Baseball Classic successful right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes, who will characteristic for Team USA.

The Pirates will apt person different players astatine nan tournament, perchance centerfielder Oneil Cruz.

Will Oneil Cruz Play successful 2026 WBC?

Cruz made his first quality of nan almanac twelvemonth pinch nan media 1 time up of PiratesFest astatine nan David L. Lawrence Convention Center successful Downtown Pittsburgh.

The 27-year aged made 1 large alteration to his appearance, cutting astir of his iconic, agelong dyed-hair and conscionable wearing a achromatic beanie, covering up his shorter hair.

Cruz didn't only make that determination an important portion of his question and reply pinch nan section media, but besides his plans this spring.

When asked astir perchance playing successful nan World Baseball Classic pinch nan Dominican Republic, Cruz didn't opportunity much, but his agleam grin pinch each teeth showing signaled he mightiness beryllium doing so.

"Something for illustration that," Cruz said done expert Stephen Morales. "Looks for illustration it."

Oneil Cruz's Dominican Heritage

Cruz was calved connected Oct. 4, 1998 successful Nizao, a metropolis connected nan southbound seashore of nan Dominican Republic and astir 30 miles westbound of nan superior city, Santo Domingo.

He quickly drew MLB scouts to his crippled and joined Los Angeles Dodgers connected a $950,000 signing prize arsenic an world free supplier successful July 2015 astatine conscionable 17 years old.

Cruz spends his offseasons successful nan Dominican Republic and has done truthful again this winter, moving connected getting amended and readying himself for 2026.

He besides has awesome connections and relationships successful his location country, moving pinch erstwhile apical players from nan Dominican Republic.

"Three aliases 4 days aft nan play aliases erstwhile I sewage to nan Dominican, I started moving correct distant pinch Wilton Guerrero, Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s brother, down successful nan Dominican," Cruz said. He helped maine a batch pinch nan outfield worldly and hitting stuff. Basically nary break."

Cruz is besides bully friends pinch nan different players from nan Dominican Republic, bonding pinch them astatine nan 2025 Home Run Derby.

The likes of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Tampa Bay Rays 3rd baseman Junior Caminero were stunned watching Cruz crush baseballs during nan competition.

Cruz will person a awesome squad astir him if he does participate, arsenic nan Dominican Republic has immoderate of nan champion shot players successful nan world.

This includes San Diego Padres correct fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., Arizona Diamondbacks 2nd baseman Ketel Marte, Seattle Mariners halfway fielder Julio Rodriguez, New York Mets near fielder Juan Soto, Cleveland Guardians 3rd baseman José Ramirez and others.

The Dominican Republic past won nan World Baseball Classic successful 2013 and they'll look to do truthful again pinch 1 of nan champion lineups.

Make judge to sojourn Pirates OnSI for nan latest news, updates, interviews and penetration connected nan Pittsburgh Pirates!