Venezuela captured its first World Baseball Classic championship with a 3-2 victory over the United States in the final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The win marked the first WBC title for Venezuela, joining Japan, the Dominican Republic and the United States as the only nations to claim the tournament crown.[1][2]
Japan has won the event three times (2006, 2009, 2023), the Dominican Republic once (2013) and the United States once (2017).[1][2] Venezuela advanced to the final after defeating Italy in the semifinals the night before.
Eduardo Rodriguez, a left-handed starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitched 4.1 innings for Venezuela. Maikel Garcia drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Wilyer Abreu, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, hit a solo home run in the fifth to make it 2-0.[3]
United States starter Nolan McLean struggled in the fifth, allowing runners to advance on a wild pitch. The U.S. offense managed limited baserunners until the eighth inning, when Bryce Harper, of the Philadelphia Phillies, hit a two-run home run with two outs following a walk to Bobby Witt Jr., tying the score at 2-2.
Venezuela regained the lead in the top of the ninth. Eugenio Suarez hit an RBI double scoring pinch-runner Javier Sanoja, who had walked and stolen second. Daniel Palencia then pitched the bottom of the ninth for the save, striking out Kyle Schwarber and Roman Anthony while Gunnar Henderson flied out.
The final was held at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, which hosted the Super Round and Final Round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic from March 12-18.[4]
Sources
- MLB.com
World Baseball Classic History
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/worldbaseballclassic/history - Wikipedia
World Baseball Classic
Accessed October 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Baseball_Classic - Baseball-Reference.com
Wilyer Abreu Player Page
Accessed October 2024
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/abreuwi01.shtml - MLB.com
MLB Announces World Baseball Classic 2026 Super Round, Final Round Venues
August 8, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-announces-world-baseball-classic-2026-super-round-final-round-venues