Nelson Cruz Addresses the Keys to the Dominican Roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
Santo Domingo – The general manager of the Dominican team, Nelson Cruz, has answered the most important questions from fans and the press following the official announcement of the Dominican Republic roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Cruz offered crucial details about the selection process, possible substitutions, insurance, and the team’s leadership. Cruz explained the detailed process for including players in the roster. This process begins with confirmation of the player’s interest and notification to the Players Association, which validates the participation before management contacts the athlete directly. Regarding potential substitutions, the general manager indicated that the team has priority lists prepared by the scouting department. This allows for a quick response to any absence due to injury, insurance issues, or other unforeseen circumstances. Cruz also highlighted the extensive work team that supports the formation of the roster. This team includes the scouting staff, advisors, and emblematic figures of Dominican baseball, such as Juan Marichal, Pedro Martínez, David Ortiz, Adrián Beltré, and Vladimir Guerrero. One of the most sensitive issues addressed was that of insurance. Cruz pointed out that this is one of the main obstacles to the participation of veteran players, since the current restrictions have limited the availability of several players, especially those over 37 years old. Regarding the team’s leadership, Cruz confirmed that Manny Machado is the main candidate to be the captain, although the final decision is still under evaluation.“We have worked to make the Dominican people proud of what we have on the field. We hope that all that talent turns into victories,” said the general manager.
Nelson Cruz
