Venezuela is expected to be one of the most exciting teams at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
While the pitching staff will need to step up, the lineup projects to be one of the best in the entire tournament. With bats like Ronald Acuna Jr., Salvador Perez, and Eugenio Suarez, Team Valenzuela should have no shortage of offense.
Venezuela’s best finish so far at the international competition is a fourth-place finish in 2009. Most recently, Team Venezuela finished fifth in 2023 after making it to the quarterfinals.
Here is more on who is playing for Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
MORE: 2026 World Baseball Classic rosters
Venezuela World Baseball Classic 2026 roster
Venezuela has a 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. They opted for 17 pitchers and only 13 hitters.
Pitchers
| Player | Team | Throws |
| Luinder Avila | Kansas City Royals | R |
| Eduard Bazardo | Seattle Mariners | R |
| Jose Butto | San Francisco Giants | R |
| Emmanuel De Jesus | — | L |
| Jhonathan Diaz | Seattle Mariners | L |
| Carlos Guzman | — | R |
| Yoendrys Gomez | Tampa Bay Rays | R |
| Andres Machado | — | R |
| Anthony Molina | — | R |
| Keider Montero | Detroit Tigers | R |
| Daniel Palencia | Chicago Cubs | R |
| Eduardo Rodriguez | Arizona Diamondbacks | L |
| Antonio Senzatela | Colorado Rockies | R |
| Christian Suarez | — | L |
| Ranger Suarez | Boston Red Sox | L |
| Ricardo Sanchez | — | L |
| Angel Zerpa | Milwaukee Brewers | L |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| William Contreras | Milwaukee Brewers | R/R |
| Salvador Perez | Kansas City Royals | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Luis Arraez | San Francisco Giants | L/R |
| Willson Contreras | Boston Red Sox | R/R |
| Maikel Garcia | Kansas City Royals | R/R |
| Andres Gimenez | Toronto Blue Jays | L/R |
| Eugenio Suarez | Cincinnati Reds | R/R |
| Gleyber Torres | Detroit Tigers | R/R |
| Ezequeil Tovar | Colorado Rockies | R/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Wilyer Abreu | Boston Red Sox | L/L |
| Ronald Acuna Jr. | Atlanta Braves | R/R |
| Jackson Chourio | Milwaukee Brewers | R/R |
| Javier Sanoja | Miami Marlins | R/R |
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Venezuela players to watch
Team Venezuela is expected to be one of the more exciting teams to watch throughout the World Baseball Classic. Ronald Acuna Jr. is a perennial MVP candidate when he is healthy. Jackson Chourio is one of the most exciting young players after debuting in the MLB at 20 years old in the 2025 season for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Others like Eugenio Suarez, Luis Arraez, Maikel Garcia, William Contreras, Willson Contreras and Salvador Perez are expected to anchor the Team Venezuela lineup.
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Who is coaching Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic?
Venezuela will be managed by Omar Lopez. He was a former player, but he never reached the majors. Lopez turned to coaching and has been with the Houston Astros since 2008. He has worked his way up with the franchise, spending 2008 to 2019 in the minor leagues before becoming the first-base coach for the major league club in 2020. Lopez was named the manager for Team Venezuela for the 2023 WBC.
There are some familiar names on Lopez’s staff. Miguel Cabrera (hitting coach), Johan Santana (pitching coach) and Victor Martinez (assistant manager) all had lengthy MLB careers. Robinson Chirinos (bench coach), Carlos Mendez (hitting coach), Jorge Cordova (pitching coach), Gerardo Parra (first base coach), Rouglas Odor (third base coach), Javier Bracamonte (bullpen catcher), Juan Graterol (bullpen catcher) and Nestor Corredor (batting practice pitcher) are the other members of Lopez’s staff.
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Venezuela World Baseball Classic history
Venezuela has participated in all editions of the World Baseball Classic so far. When the international tournament began in 2006, Team Venezuela finished in seventh. In 2009, they made it all the way to the semifinals, but lost to South Korea 10-2 in the semifinals. Venezuela finished 10th in 2013, eighth in 2017 and fifth in the most recent World Baseball Classic in 2023.
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Venezuela World Baseball Classic 2026 schedule
Venezuela will be in Pool D to begin the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and the games will be held in Miami, Florida.
Joining Team Venezuela in Pool D will be the Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands and Nicaragua. The top two teams from the pool will advance to the knockout stage and will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Fri., Mar. 6 | Venezuela vs. Netherlands | 12 p.m. | Tubi |
| Sat., Mar. 7 | Venezuela vs. Israel | 7 p.m. | FS2, Fubo |
| Mon., Mar. 9 | Venezuela vs. Nicaragua | 7 p.m. | FS2, Fubo |
| Wed., Mar. 11 | Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic | 8 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
| March 13 or 14 | Quarterfinals | TBD | TBD |
| March 15 or 16 | Semifinals | 8 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 17 | Finals | 8 p.m. | Fox |
