Colombia open camp for World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Colombia opened camp at the Edgar Renteria Stadium in Barranquilla in preparation for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, which will take place from March 2 to 6 at the Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona where world No. 13 Colombia will compete against No. 17 Germany, No. 20 China and No. 23 Brazil.

Manager Neder Horta is working with 14 players:

PITCHERS (6) Jhon Romero, Luis Escobar, Jean Carlos Herrera, Danis Correa, David Lorduy, Ezequiel Zabaleta
CATCHERS (2) Guillermo Quintana, Carlos Martinez
INFIELDERS (4) Dilson, Francisco Acuna, José Ramos, Fabian Pertuz
OUTFIELDERS (2) Harold Ramirez, Brayan Buelvas

Horta has coached Colombia internationally at various levels. He was the manager of the U-15 National Team in 2022 and was on the coaching staff at the 2021, 2022, and 2024 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cups. Right-hander Jean Carlos Herrera, catcher Guillermo Quintana, and slugging outfielder Brayan Buelvas played for U-23 Colombia.

The preliminary camp features a lot of Major League Baseball (MLB) talent, in particular outfielder Harold Ramirez and pitchers Jhon Romero and Danis Correa.

Michael Arroyo, a 20-year-old infielder who received a US$1.375 million signing bonus from the Seattle Mariners, will join the team soon.

World Baseball Classic Inc. will announceThe full 28-player roster later.

World No. 2 Chinese Taipei will host No. 16 Nicaragua, No. 24 Spain, and No. 31 South Africa will participate in the first World Baseball Classic Qualifier at the Taipei Dome from February 21 to 25.

The first-place finishers and the winners of an elimination game between the second and third-place finishers of each group will advance to the World Baseball Classic 2026.