Robert Stock’s time at the World Baseball Classic was over before it began.
The New York Mets pitcher won’t compete for Team Israel because of shoulder discomfort, knocking him out of the 12-day international tournament. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Friday that Stock will undergo testing to determine the underlying cause of his discomfort.
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Stock, 36, is a veteran of 57 major league games across parts of five seasons with the San Diego Padres (2018-19), Boston Red Sox (2020, 2025), Chicago Cubs (2021), and Mets (2021). That makes him among few on Israel’s WBC roster with MLB experience.
Stock pitched for Israel at the 2023 WBC, recording one save and losing in his only start.
In 2025, went 5-4 with a 3.92 ERA for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox. He was released from his minor league contract with the Red Sox in August 2025, and signed a minor league deal with the Mets last November.
Fortunately for Stock, Team Israel was assigned to Pool D, which plays out of loanDepot Park in Miami. He won’t have to go far to get examined by Mets personnel at their spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Unfortunately, what might have been his last chance to pitch at a WBC is suddenly over.
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