Kansas City Royals stars Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia are both set to play for Team Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Perez is the captain of the team. Meanwhile, Garcia is a young player who is looking to make an impact in the WBC.

So, what should fans expect from Perez and Garcia in the tournament?

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Perez is already one of the best Royals players of all-time. The catcher will have an opportunity to cement himself as a Team Venezuela legend as well.

Perhaps it will be a walk-off home run. Maybe it will just be a walk-off base hit. It could even be a clutch defensive play. Regardless, the prediction here is that Perez will have at least one huge moment in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and it would not surprise anyone if Perez ended up having multiple memorable moments.

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While all MLB fans are well aware of Perez’s game, they may not be quite as familiar with Garcia. The 25-year-old third baseman earned his first All-Star selection and Gold Glove last year, and the Royals agreed to a contract extension with him over the offseason. Kansas City fans surely know all about Garcia, but the ’26 WBC will provide him with an opportunity to introduce himself to fans who don’t know much about him.

Garcia enjoyed an impressive ’25 campaign. He finished the year with a strong .286/.351/.449 slash line to go along with 16 home runs, 39 doubles, 23 stolen bases and 74 RBI.

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It would not be surprising to see Garcia carry his 2025 regular season momentum into the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Team USA and Team Japan are likely going to be the favorites to win the World Baseball Classic. Team Dominican Republic is also in the conversation. However, Team Venezuela should not be overlooked.

They will likely win a few big games early on in the tournament. They could even be a semifinals team. In the end, they probably won’t reach the championship (although anything is possible), but Team Venezuela should be able to make a competitive run in the WBC.

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Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia will do everything they can to help the team upset expectations and win the tournament. Royals fans will closely monitor their performances throughout the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic.