With the 2026 World Baseball Classic set to begin in March, the preliminary roster for Czechia is here. Initial rosters are subject to change. Read on below for our team summary and breakdown of top players and prospects to know.
Find all of our WBC coverage here.
Team Summary: It will be hard for Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) to top its magical 2023 World Baseball Classic, but it can hope to equal it. Czechia made it into the previous tournament as the runner-up in one of the qualifiers. They then beat China 8-5 in their opener of the tournament. That was their only win, but it was a truly crucial one. Because China went winless, Czechia finished fourth and earned an automatic berth in this year’s WBC.
Czechia is the only team that does not have any MLB-affiliated players on its roster. The team is largely homegrown, with a few players playing in the U.S., primarily at junior colleges. Catcher Matouš Bubenik is a freshman on the D-I UNC Wilmington roster.
Top Players: 2B Terrin Vavra is currently a free agent, but he did reach the majors for one game with the Orioles last year. He’s played 68 games with Baltimore across three seasons, hitting .252/.329/.302. Outfielder Marek Chlup hit .333 with a double in the 2023 WBC. Catcher Martin Cervenka was a long-time MiLB catcher who reached Triple-A with the Orioles and Mets before heading to play in the Czech league. RHP Marek Minarik led the team with six strikeouts in the 2023 WBC, and he got the win in the game against China.
Top Prospects: Bubenik, by his status as a D-I player, is the top prospect currently on the Czech team. Filip Kollmann, a 20-year-old righthander, is pitching at Arizona Western JC, while RHP Ondrej Vank, also 20 years old, is pitching at Northeastern (Okla.) JC. 3B Jan Popisil is hitting .400 in four games with D-II North Greenville (S.C.) this season.
Pool C
Japan
Australia
Korea
Czechia
Chinese Taipei
Dates/Location: March 5-10, Tokyo, Japan.
Czechia World Baseball Classic Roster
playerposbatsthrowsheightweightagemlb orgclubBarto, JeffLHPLL6-0018036Třebíč Nuclears (CZE)Čapka, FilipRHPLR6-0120527Draci Brno (CZE)Duffek, TomášLHPRL6-0118836Eagles Praha (CZE)Ercoli, LukášLHPRL6-0320129Kotlářka Praha (CZE)Hlouch, LukášRHPLR6-0421625Třebíč Nuclears (CZE)Kollmann, FilipRHPLR6-0116320Arizona Western College (NJCAA)Kovala, MichalRHPLR5-1016322Chipola College (NJCAA)Minařík, MarekRHPRR6-0720832Sokol Hluboká (CZE)Novák, JanLHPRL6-0219032Kotlářka Praha (CZE)Ondra, TomášRHPLR6-0419829Draci Brno (CZE)Padyšák, DanielRHPLR6-0422525Oisix Niigata Albirex (JPN)Satoria, OndřejRHPRR5-1015428Arrows Ostrava (CZE)Schneider, MartinRHPRR6-0218039Skokani Olomouc (CZE)Vank, OndřejRHPRR6-0119220Northeastern Junior College (NJCAA)Večerka, BorisRHPRR6-0423022Hroši Brno (CZE)Bubenik, MatoušCRR6-0220720UNC Wilmington (NCAA)Červenka, MartinCRR6-0422533Kotlářka Praha (CZE)Zelenka, MartinCRR6-0222525Tempo Praha (CZE)Červinka, MartinINFRR6-0419328Draci Brno (CZE)Escala, WilliamUTLSR5-1118027Hroši Brno (CZE)Johnson, RyanUTLLL6-0022933Hroši Brno (CZE)Krejčiřík, MarekUTLLR5-0916524Třebíč Nuclears (CZE)Menšík, VojtechINFRR6-0017527Hroši Brno (CZE)Mužík, Martin1BRR6-0020529Sokol Hluboká (CZE)Pospíšil, JanINFLR6-0018522North Greenville University (NCAA)Prokop, MilanINFRR6-0019422Draci Brno (CZE)Vavra, Terrin2BLR6-001852855 ČERVENKA, Martin CChlup, MarekOFRR6-0324427Caliente de Durango (MEX)Prejda, MaxOFLR5-1115418Kotlářka Praha (CZE)Šindelka, MichalOFRR5-1119820Chipola College (NJCAA)