Most Pirates fans are likely aware of Paul Skenes’ commitment to the United States 2026 World Baseball Classic team, but another star on the other side of the ball has just committed to play for the Dominican squad.
Oneil Cruz’s 2025 was a whiplash of ups and downs, including the hardest hit ball in MLB history, several defensive lowlights, a Home Run Derby performance, second-half struggles, and a ball thrown from the outfield at over 100 mph. Yet, the Pirates starting center fielder enters 2026 with optimism that he might be able to put his unique tools together. This confidence has been echoed by the Dominican Republic national team, which officially announced him as a roster member on Tuesday.
Cruz will join a squad that is one of the favorites to win the tournament, headlined by superstars such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., and Juan Soto. Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez was also on the 2023 team and is expected to join the 2026 lineup, but has not officially committed yet. If he does, it might be a little difficult to find consistent playing time for Cruz, whose secondary position, shortstop, is also covered by Diamondbacks breakout star Geraldo Perdomo.
Yet, international baseball is different, especially when there are mismatches. Lower quality pitching and fewer scouting reports means that hitters can explode onto the tournament scene, and Cruz’s tendencies could lend themselves to this sort of environment. The Dominican Republic will start their WBC run with a matchup on March 6 against Nicaragua, an up-and-coming team that first qualified in 2023. While anything can happen, Nicaragua is arguably the lowest seed in the whole field, and might not have an MLB pitcher on their roster. This could be a perfect chance to get Cruz’s bat hot, and if that happens, watch out for a hot streak that could carry over and spark his upcoming MLB season.
