Manny Machado Sets His Sights on the Championship for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
Santo Domingo, RD. – The captain of the Dominican Republic team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Manny Machado, has made it clear that the team’s main objective is to win the championship and proudly represent the Dominican Republic. During the first practice of the Dominican team, held on Sunday at loanDepot Park, the star third baseman shared the team’s vision with the 30 players called up.The San Diego Padres player emphasized the need to leave behind what happened in the 2023 edition, where the team failed to advance to the quarterfinals, and focus on the current talent of the roster.“The most important thing here is to win. That’s what we all want in the clubhouse: to win for the country. At the end of the day that’s the most important thing, to play for the Dominican Republic,” said Machado.
Manny Machado
Machado also highlighted his personal motivation to participate in the tournament, driven by his family roots and his strong connection to the country.“We have to play our game. Not focus on the other teams, but on what we can do each day. If we do that, we are going to be in a good position,” he affirmed.
Manny Machado
The third baseman participated in the Classic for the first time in 2017 and repeated in 2023. For the 2026 edition, he was again designated as captain. After practice in Miami, the team will travel to Santo Domingo to continue their preparation at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium, where they will play two exhibition games against the Detroit Tigers. The Dominican Republic national team’s debut will be on Friday against Nicaragua. Subsequently, they will face the Netherlands, Israel, and the United States in the group stage of the tournament.“My Dominican blood is always there,” he expressed.
Manny Machado
