The Dominican Republic routed the Netherlands 12-1 on Sunday afternoon to move to 2-0 at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
With half of pool play done, the Dominicans and their potent lineup look like one of the biggest contenders for the WBC title. The DR has one won World Baseball Classic championship, which came in 2013. Japan is the defending champion, having won the 2023 event.
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Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays continued his electric run, going 2-for-3 with another home run, and Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. He hit his first home run of the tournament and already has six RBIs through two games.
Guerrero and his teammates will be back in action on Monday afternoon at 12 p.m. ET against Israel before ending pool play on Wednesday against their rivals from Venezuela.
This run through the WBC is just an extension of what Guerrero did in the 2025 playoffs, where he hit .397 through 18 games as the Blue Jays advanced to the World Series. He had eight home runs and 15 RBIs.
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A seven-year veteran of the Blue Jays, Guerrero is a .288 career hitter with 183 home runs. He is a five-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove winner.
While the Blue Jays lineup is always dependent on him to perform, it will be even more important this year in the absence of Bo Bichette, who signed a free agent deal with the New York Mets in the offseason.
Guerrero will be supported by the likes of Kazuma Okamoto, Addison Barger, Daulton Varsho and catcher Alejandro Kirk.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the WBCÂ Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
–Pitcher Yariel Rodriguez has delivered two scoreless relief outings for Team Cuba, who is out to a 2-0 start in Pool A. Rodriguez, who is currently off the 40-man roster, is trying to work his way back into the bullpen fold.
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–Utility man Ernie Clement started for Team USA on Saturday in a win over Great Britain. The Americans are also 2-0.
–Prospect Adam Macko is playing for Canada while Leo Jimenez is playing for Panama. Those two teams are playing each other on Sunday night.
–Kirk is playing for Team Mexico, who is 1-0 heading into Sunday’s matchup with Brazil. They’ll play the United States on Monday.
–Okamoto is playing with Team Japan, who is 2-0 as well. They beat Australia in a close game on Sunday morning.
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