SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– The Puerto Rican baseball legend Yadier Molina will once again lead the Puerto Rico national team as manager in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as officially announced by the team this Wednesday.
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It will be the second consecutive time that Molina, an icon of catching in the Major Leagues, leads the Puerto Rican team, after taking the team to the quarterfinals in the 2023 edition. With a brilliant career that includes 10 All-Star Games, two World Series titles and a reputation as one of the best defensive catchers of all time, Molina now adds experience from the dugout. Molina was also a key player in the first five editions of the Classic, standing out as a runner-up in 2013 and 2017, when Puerto Rico fell to the Dominican Republic and the United States, respectively. The 2026 World Baseball Classic will begin on March 5, and Puerto Rico, currently ninth in the world ranking, will debut on March 6 against Canada, as part of Group A, which also includes Colombia, Cuba, and Panama. All games in this group will be played at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, reinforcing the Puerto Rican home advantage. The Mets’ shortstop, Francisco Lindor, will repeat as team captain, as in the previous tournament. With experience, leadership, and a headquarters full of history, Puerto Rico aims high on its path to the coveted world title.
