Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte will join shortstop Geraldo Perdomo on the Dominican Republic national team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to the Dominican Republic Ministry of Sports’ Hector Gomez.
Marte is a returning player for the Dominican Republic, which is looking to bounce back after failing to win its group in 2023.
The roster, which will be managed by MLB legend Albert Pujols and whose general manager is former slugger Nelson Cruz, is loaded offensively.
Marte, Perdomo, Juan Soto, Elly De La Cruz, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Junior Caminero are all committed to the team.
Fellow Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll will patrol the outfield for Team USA, alongside Aaron Judge and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Japan enters the tournament as the defending champion.
Marte, a native of Nizao, went 2-for-8 with a double and an RBI in two games played during the 2023 WBC.
RBI double for Ketel Marte 🎉
Dominican Republic now leads 3-0!
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/cQ5jmCXqOS
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 15, 2023
The switch-hitter is coming off another strong season for the Diamondbacks, smashing 28 home runs with an .893 OPS and earning a First Team All-MLB nod. His future in Arizona is uncertain, as the Diamondbacks have listened to trade offers this winter.
Regardless of what happens, Marte and Perdomo will be teammates come the spring, as the WBC runs from March 5-17.
The Dominican Republic plays in Pool D with Venezuela, Israel, Netherlands and Nicaragua. Their group stage games will be at loanDepot Park in Miami.
