The Cincinnati Reds only have one big leaguer that will be playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Eugenio Suarez will be making his second appearance in the tournament as he represents Venezuela. He previously played for them in 2023. But the club does have five minor league players who will be playing for their country next month during spring training and they will all be on different teams.
Edwin Arroyo will be representing Puerto Rico. The shortstop came back in 2025 after shoulder surgery cost him the previous season, and aside from not hitting for much power, he had a successful year in Double-A Chattanooga. He also spent part of his offseason playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, hitting .355/.429/.468 in 16 regular season games. He had a hit in five of the six playoff games he played in as Santurce would go on to win the league championship.
Cincinnati added him to the 40-man roster in November. While it was a long shot he would be truly competing for a spot on the big league roster given that he’s never played in Triple-A and was merely solid in Double-A last season and there’s also not exactly a spot open for him as long as everyone remains healthy. But he’s giving up some time in March where he could at least in theory be impressing the coaching staff. He will be gaining a whole lot of experience at a high level, though, which is more than a few people in the game would tell you is probably more valuable than being sent down early in the spring.
Puerto Rico is in Pool A along with Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia. Games will take place in Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithor Stadium. Here’s their schedule in Pool play:
Game 1: March 6th vs ColombiaGame 2: March 7th vs PanamaGame 3: March 9th vs CubaGame 4: March 10th vs Canada
Ivan Johnson will be representing Great Britain. Cincinnati’s 4th round draft pick in 2019, Johnson got out to a hot start in 2025 with Louisville but his season was cut short at the end of June. He went 1-4 on the 29th and missed the rest of the season. In the last two years he’s played in 105 games with Louisville and has hit .252/.347/.452 with 17 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs, and he’s stolen 13 bases.
Great Britain is in Pool B along with the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Brazil. Games will take place in Houston at Daikin Park, home of the Astros. Here is their schedule in Pool play:
Game 1: March 6th vs MexicoGame 2: March 7th vs United StatesGame 3: March 8th vs ItalyGame 4: March 9th vs Brazil
Alexander Vargas didn’t join the Reds organization until late August in 2025. He had been playing in High-A with the New York Yankees but they released him. Cincinnati picked up the infielder on a free agent deal and he spent the final 18 games of the year with Dayton. The now 24-year-old shortstop will be representing Team Cuba next month.
Cuba is also in Pool A. Here is their schedule in Pool play:
Game 1: March 6th vs PanamaGame 2: March 8th vs ColombiaGame 3: March 9th vs Puerto RicoGame 4: March 11th vs Canada
David Lorduy will be pitching for Team Colombia. He pitched last season as a 21-year-old in Daytona for the most part. He missed about eight weeks in the middle of the season where he made two rehab starts out in Arizona in the middle of June before returning to Daytona. With the Tortugas in 2025 he threw 65.0 innings with a 3.88 ERA. The right-handed starter had 60 strikeouts and 24 walks during his time in the Florida State League.
Colombia is also in Pool A. Here is their schedule in Pool play:
Game 1: March 6th vs Puerto RicoGame 2: March 7th vs CanadaGame 3: March 8th vs CubaGame 4: March 9th vs Panama
Ryjeteri Merite is the least experienced player from the Reds organization to make a World Baseball Classic roster. The left-handed pitcher signed with Cincinnati in 2024 but only threw 3.2 innings. This past season he threw 33.1 innings for the Dominican Summer League Reds. Now he’s going to be representing the Netherlands in the tournament in March. Merite turned 20 in December and he’s been dominant as a professional, granted at the lowest level of professional baseball. He has a career 0.97 ERA in his 37.0 innings for the DSL Reds while racking up 44 strikeouts and walking 15.
The Netherlands are in Pool D along with Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Israel, and Nicaragua. Games will take place in Miami at LoanDepot Park. Here is their schedule in Pool play:
Game 1: March 6th vs VenezuelaGame 2: March 7th vs NicaraguaGame 3: March 8th vs Dominican RepublicGame 4: March 10th vs Israel
The Reds are among the teams with the fewest players in the World Baseball Classic. Including Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati only has six players on the 20 rosters. Only the Nationals (3), Astros (3), White Sox (5) and Braves (5) have fewer. The New York Mets lead the way with 17. When it comes to players on the 40-man roster only the Nationals (1) have fewer than the Reds (2) on WBC rosters.