Nolan Arenado joins Puerto Rico for the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Santo Domingo. Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, a multiple Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star selection, will join the Puerto Rico national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the team announced this Monday, days after his trade from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Arizona Diamondbacks was finalized.

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Arenado, son of a Puerto Rican and Cuban mother, had previously defended the colors of the United States in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics. In the most recent edition, he had an outstanding offensive performance, batting .385, with 10 hits in 26 at-bats, four extra-base hits, and five RBIs, helping the U.S. reach the runner-up position after falling to Japan. In 2017, he was part of the American team that defeated Puerto Rico in the final. The change of selection is not unprecedented. In the 2023 Classic, pitcher Marcus Stroman, Most Valuable Player of the tournament in 2017 with the United States, represented Puerto Rico. Arenado will reinforce the left side of the infield alongside the Mets’ shortstop, Francisco Lindor, captain of the Puerto Rican team. Puerto Rico has reached the World Baseball Classic final twice, finishing as runner-up in 2013 and 2017. Puerto Rico’s debut in the 2026 tournament will be on March 6 against Colombia, at the beginning of the group stage of Group A, which will be played at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Also in the group are Cuba, Panama and Canada.

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