Will Cristopher Sánchez pitch in the World Baseball Classic? The lefty is waiting for an answer from the Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez’s status for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is still up in the air, as the Phillies have not yet given the starting pitcher the OK to play for the Dominican Republic.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of speculation on that right now,” Sánchez said through an interpreter on Tuesday inside the Phillies’ clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park. “I’m not ready to answer anything on that yet. I still have to talk to the Phillies about it, and up until I get a legitimate answer, I don’t want to comment on it.”

Sánchez, 29, confirmed that he’d like to pitch in the international tournament if the Phillies are on board. The Dominican Republic begins WBC play against Nicaragua on Friday, March 6, at Miami’s loanDepot Park.

“Of course,” Sánchez said. “It’s always going to be an honor for me to be able to represent my country.”

One of the most impressive developmental successes in the major leagues over the past handful of seasons, Sánchez took another massive step forward in 2025. He had a 2.50 ERA in 32 starts, pitching 202 innings and striking out 212 batters. Sánchez was the runner-up for the National League Cy Young Award.

With ace Zack Wheeler missing the later part of the season with thoracic outlet syndrome, Sánchez stepped into the No. 1 starter role and handled it well. The lefty could potentially make his first career Opening Day start this year with Wheeler still working his way back. But even with Sánchez’s increased importance to the Phillies, manager Rob Thomson said he’d have no reservations about the 6-foot-6 workhorse representing the Dominican Republic in the WBC.

“I think it’s a great honor to pitch for your country,” Thomson, who played in the 1984 Olympics, said. “I really do. I’ve done it a couple of times, to be able to play for Team Canada a couple of times. But to play for your country is quite an honor. You’re holding your breath when the guys go, but at the end of it, if they kind of come out of it clean, I think it’s really good.’

Thomson has spoken about some of the difficulties of the WBC for a big-league team in the past. The tournament takes place during spring training, taking players away from camp in the weeks leading up to the regular season. Trea Turner played for Team USA in the 2023 WBC shortly before his first year with the Phillies began, which might have interrupted his acclimation process.

So far, the Phillies have a number of players currently committed to participating in the 2026 WBC. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brad Keller will play for Team USA. Edmundo Sosa will represent Panama. Garrett Stubbs will play for Israel. Taijuan Walker and Alan Rangel will pitch for Mexico. Johan Rojas will represent the Dominican Republic.

Perhaps Sánchez could be one of the next Phillies to join that list.

“A lot of the guys that are going this year have been around for a while,” Thomson said, “so long as they stay healthy, I think it’s a great honor.”