Dominican Republic Begins Preparations for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
The general manager of the Dominican selection, Nelson Cruz, has welcomed the players who will represent the country in the next 2026 World Baseball Classic. The players began to integrate in Miami, marking the beginning of the activities prior to this important international event.
The preparation agenda includes training in Miami and Santo Domingo, starting with practices this Sunday in Miami and continuing on Monday at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium.
The called-up players are already gathered, ready to begin their preparation for the tournament. The Dominican team will seek to compete for the title and honorably represent the country.
The activities are part of a program that includes training sessions, integration meetings, and technical work sessions before the official start of the championship.
Under the direction of former slugger Albert Pujols, the Dominican team will bring together several of the main figures of Major League Baseball, including star outfielder Juan Soto, among other players who make up one of the most competitive teams in the tournament.
The Dominican selection will begin its schedule of training and preparation matches in the coming days before its debut in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, an event that brings together the main baseball powers internationally.
With the arrival of the players and the start of activities, the Dominican team officially enters the final phase of preparation for the expected World Cup.
The first joint practice is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st at LoanDepot Park, home of the Dominican group and the stage where the team will make its debut in the tournament. This training will mark the formal start of the final preparation stage with most of the roster gathered.
On Monday morning, the entire delegation will travel to the Dominican Republic on the same flight, complying with a regulation established by the tournament organizers that requires all team members — players, coaches, and technical staff — to travel together.
This provision will also apply during the concentration in the country, as everyone must travel on the team’s official bus, without individual travel.
Already in Santo Domingo, the team will hold its first training session that same Monday at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium starting at 4:00 p.m. The practice will be open to the public and will have availability for the press, including statements from general manager Nelson Cruz and manager Albert Pujols.
That same night, team members will participate in a private dinner with President Luis Abinader.
As part of the preparation, on Tuesday, March 3, the Dominican selection will play its first exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium. Batting practice is scheduled for 4:30 in the afternoon, while the game will start at 7:05 p.m.
Both teams will face each other again on Wednesday, March 4th in another preparation game, scheduled for 3:05 p.m., with batting practice around 12:30 p.m.
After concluding these commitments, the Dominican team will return to Miami to finalize details before their expected debut in the tournament, scheduled for Friday against Nicaragua.
