José Ramírez Withdraws from the 2026 World Baseball Classic for Personal Reasons
Santo Domingo – The general manager of the Dominican baseball team, Nelson Cruz, announced this Thursday that third baseman José Ramírez will not be on the roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The absence is due to a personal situation that prevents the player from participating in the tournament. Cruz offered these statements to the media, taking the opportunity to apologize for not having reported the decision earlier. He explained that his role as manager also involves looking after the well-being of the players.Cruz clarified that the decision is not related to Ramírez’s sporting performance, but rather to a personal matter that prevents him from being present from the start of the tournament. Furthermore, the manager indicated that there is a possibility that Ramirez will join the team in a second phase of the tournament, if the Dominican Republic advances. Cruz also highlighted that the decision has been difficult for Ramirez, who has always shown his willingness to represent the country at the event. Finally, Cruz reported that it will be José Ramírez himself who, in due course, will offer more details about the situation that prevents him from participating in the Classic.“I want to apologize to the media, because I know there was a lot of expectation about José’s participation. My responsibility as a manager is not limited to choosing a team, it also includes protecting the players,” said Cruz.
Nelson Cruz, General Manager
