Red Sox free agent signee Ranger Su\u00e1rez and trade addition Willson Contreras will both play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
All the WBC rosters were revealed on Thursday. In all, 11 players on the Red Sox 40-man roster will participate:<\/p>\n
Masataka Yoshida (Japan): In 2023, Yoshida\u2019s 13 RBIs were a record for a single World Baseball Classic. He will again play for Japan, the defending champions. He went 9-for-22 (.409) with two home runs, one double, four walks, one strikeout and five runs in seven games during Japan\u2019s 2023 title run. He\u2019ll play alongside two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.<\/p>\n
Ranger Su\u00e1rez (Venezuela): Su\u00e1rez will make his WBC debut for Team Venezuela alongside Red Sox teammates Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras. Former Red Sox pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Eduard Bazardo also will pitch for Venezuela. Boston signed Su\u00e1rez, a left-handed starter, to a five-year, $130 million contract on Jan. 14<\/a>.<\/p>\n Willson Contreras (Venezuela): The 33-year-old first baseman also will appear his first WBC. Boston acquired Su\u00e1rez <\/a>and cash from the Cardinals for righty Hunter Dobbins and pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n Jarren Duran (Mexico): The 29-year-old should receive much more playing time in this year\u2019s WBC after taking just five at-bats in six games for Mexico in 2023. Former Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino also will play for Mexico.<\/p>\n Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands): This will be Rafaela\u2019s first WBC. He joins a Netherlands roster that will include former Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who will play in the WBC for a fourth time (2013, 2017, 2023, 2026). Former Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen and catcher Chadwick Tromp, who played for Triple-A Worcester last year, also made the roster.<\/p>\n Brayan Bello (Dominican Republic): This will be Bello\u2019s first WBC appearance. He joins a star-studded Dominican Republic roster that includes Juan Soto, Cristopher S\u00e1nchez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Geraldo Perdomo, Jeremy Pe\u00f1a, Oneil Cruz, Julio Rodr\u00edguez and Fernando Tatis Jr.<\/p>\n Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela): This will be Abreu\u2019s WBC debut. He joins a talented Venezuela outfield that also includes Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting Abreu has won the AL Gold Glove in right field each of the past two seasons.<\/p>\n Jovani Mor\u00e1n (Puerto Rico): The 28-year-old lefty reliever will appear in his second WBC. He made three relief appearances for Puerto Rico in 2023. In 2 \u2154 innings, he allowed one run, one hit (a solo homer) and two walks while striking out five. Former Red Sox catcher Christian V\u00e1zquez will also play for Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n Greg Weissert (Italy): This will be Weissert\u2019s first WBC. This comes after playing an important role in the Red Sox bullpen last year with a 2.82 ERA, 17 holds and four saves in 72 outings. Former Red Sox reliever Adam Ottavino and former top prospect Kyle Teel also will play for Italy.<\/p>\n Garrett Whitlock (United States): The 29-year-old also will make his WBC debut. He\u2019ll work out of the bullpen for a United States team that finished as the runner-up to Japan in 2023. Whitlock joins a United States roster that includes former Red Sox players Alex Bregman, Kyle Schwarber and Brad Keller as well as former Red Sox minor leaguer Gabe Speier. <\/p>\n Nate Eaton (Great Britain): The 29-year-old will make his WBC debut. This will be an important spring training for Eaton, who has a chance to make the Opening Day roster. Alex Cora has said Eaton \u201chas a shot\u201d to take the role previously held by Rob Refsnyder<\/a> as a right-handed-hitting outfielder off the bench.<\/p>\n