KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The list of Kansas City Royals who will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic continues to grow.
Thursday afternoon, the Dominican Republic’s baseball federation announced that Royals closer Carlos Estevez was joining the Dominican team.
Fresh off his second All-Star season, the 33-year-old Estevez becomes the seventh member of the Royals to announce he’ll play in the WBC.
Estevez had a 4-5 record, a 2.45 ERA and 42 saves for the Royals in 2025, his first season with the organization.
Estevez joins a Royals group that includes third baseman Maikel Garcia and catcher Salvador Perez for Venezuela, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (United States), first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (Italy), right fielder Jac Caglianone (Italy) and pitcher Seth Lugo (Puerto Rico) as participants in the World Baseball Classic.
The Dominican Republic team that Estevez will be a part of plays in Miami in Pool D. The final game of Pool Play, on Wednesday, March 11, will feature Estevez and the Dominican Republic against Perez, Garcia and the Venezuelan team.
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