Juan Soto: “We proved to be the best baseball team”
Miami – Following elimination in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals, star outfielder Juan Soto emphasized that the Dominican Republic team left a significant mark on the tournament. The Dominican team was defeated 2-1 by the United States in a close match at loanDepot Park in Miami. The game concluded with a controversial umpire’s decision in the last at-bat. After the game, the Dominican players left the clubhouse with an atmosphere of unity and optimism, celebrating the team’s performance during the championship.The end of the game generated debate after the umpire called a strike on Geraldo Perdomo, in a play that many considered outside the strike zone. Perdomo expressed his discontent after the match. “I knew 100% that it was a ball,” stated the player, who had a seven-pitch at-bat before the final decision. The match was a battle between two of the strongest teams in the tournament. The Dominican Republic took the lead with a home run by Junior Caminero, setting a new home run record for the team in the Classic. The United States responded with home runs from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony, before the American relief managed to control the Dominican offense. Despite the result, the performance of the Dominican team generated enthusiasm among the fans present in the stadium, where more than 36 thousand spectators witnessed one of the most outstanding matches of the tournament. From the team management, Nelson Cruz also valued the impact of the event on the growth of international baseball, highlighting the high competitive level and the passion that the Classic awakens among players and fans.We showed the world who the best baseball team is.
Juan Soto
