MIAMI, FL—Earlier this year, Javier Sanoja wasn’t even projected to be on Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic roster. When he was ultimately selected, it was only with the idea of him being a versatile bench piece. However, an opportunity to start suddenly presented itself when Jackson Chourio was hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Washington Nationals. The night before Venezuela’s opening game against the Netherlands, manager Omar Lopez informed Sanoja that he would be starting in center field, hitting eighth in the lineup.

The undersized utility player ended up taking one of the most important at-bats of Friday’s game. On the first pitch he saw from Antwone Kelly (Pittsburgh Pirates No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline), Sanoja went deep 370 feet to left field, retaking the lead for Venezuela in the bottom of the second inning.

According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, Sanoja joined former Marlin Luis Arraez (2023) as the only two MLB players to homer in their current team’s home ballpark during the WBC.

Sanoja played the entire game, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Venezuela held that lead the rest of the way, winning 6-2.

 

It was also a day to remember for three other members of the Marlins organization.

Representing Cuba in Pool A, Yiddi Cappe took on FIU alum Logan Allen and Panama. Cappe started at second base and hit ninth in the lineup. He finished the day going 1-for-2 with a walk. His lone hit of the game was off of Allen in the top of the third inning, a 103.9 mph double to left field, which set up a two-run homer by third baseman Yoan Moncada.

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Cuba would wind up winning by a final score of 3-1.

Ian Lewis Jr., who is from the Bahamas, is able to participate for Great Britain because the Bahamas remains part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Even with the help of Bahamian talent, the team’s roster is pretty thin compared to most others in the WBC, so despite being an unranked Marlins prospect, Lewis has a significant role.

In his WBC debut against Mexico, Lewis went 2-for-4, both singles. His first base hit was off of Brennan Bernardino in the bottom of the fifth inning at 103.9 mph. In the bottom of the ninth, Lewis did the same thing against Seattle Mariners All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz.

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Lewis was one of three players on Great Britain who had a multi-hit day. Unfortunately, they fell to Mexico by a final score of 8-2.

Opposing the Brits, Jared Serna did not start the game for Mexico, but entered in the top of the ninth inning as a pinch-runner. He came around to score an insurance run in the game.

The following Marlins players haven’t seen any action yet, but are expected to make their tournament debut in the coming days:

RHP Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic) 

OF Owen Caissie (Canada) 

C Liam Hicks (Canada)

SS Otto Lopez (Canada)

OF Jakob Marsee (Italy)

C Agustin Ramirez (Dominican Republic)

 

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