The much anticipated 2026 World Baseball Classic will be starting in early March with teams finalizing their rosters as the tournament approaches. The Pirates’ centerfielder Oneil Cruz is the latest addition to the Dominican Republic team.
Cruz will be participating in his first ever WBC as he joins a loaded Dominican lineup. The Pirates’ centerfielder had hinted at the possibility of participating during Pirates’ Fest, but it was officially confirmed this week.
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Since coming into the league Cruz has spent his winters working out back in his native Dominican Republic, and has close ties to several of the players on the team.
“Three or four days after the season or when I got to the Dominican, I started working right away with Wilton Guerrero, Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s brother, down in the Dominican,” Cruz said. “He helped me a lot with the outfield stuff and hitting stuff. Basically no break.”
During the annual Pirates’ Fest, Cruz acknowledged his shortcomings during the 2025 season, stating that he felt that he had no time to relax this offseason and had to get to work.
“The season that I had last year, it was not my best season,” Cruz said. “I just went home, no time to relax. I went right to work. Just to work on the stuff that I was having trouble with last year and work on my body again. No time to relax. Just focus on what I need to do to get better.”
Cruz is one of the most physically gifted players in MLB, but Pirates’ fans have been waiting for him to take the next step in his career and really come into his prime. Being on this stacked Dominican team could be a great opportunity for him to be around incredible talent and get some valued experience playing in a high stakes tournament.
The Dominican Republic last won the WBC in 2013 and with the roster they have this year are going to be hard to beat as they’re one of the best teams in international play. Players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Seranthony Domínguez are just a few of the top talent that will be apart of this Dominican roster.
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Fellow Pirate Paul Skenes will be representing Team USA during the WBC as the Americans will be looking to win the title on home soil.
The Dominican Republic is full of fire power throughout their lineup and rotation, and Cruz should be a welcomed addition to an already stacked roster.