WBC Team Preview: Venezuela

Team Venezuela should be fun to watch. A former MVP, a three-time batting champion, and a slew of players with All-Star appearances on their resumes will look to lead the squad to its first World Baseball Classic title.

The potent offense may have to do a lot of heavy lifting because the pitching, already thin compared to some other WBC contenders, was dealt a serious blow when the Twins’ Pablo López suffered an elbow injury.

Notable Players

Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu form arguably the best all-around outfield in the tournament. The infield is loaded with MLB talent as well: Eugenio Suarez, Maikel Garcia, Gleyber Torres, Willson Contreras, Luis Arraez and Andres Gimenez. The catchers are Salvador Perez, 35, who is also the captain, and William Contreras.

But on the mound for starters, there is Ranger Suárez, and questions. Options include Eduardo Rodriguez (Diamondbacks) Keider Montero (Tigers), and a pair of Rockies, Antonio Senzatela and Germán Márquez, who combined to go 7-31 last season with ERAs of 6.65 and 6.70, respectively.

The bullpen, however, looks solid with Daniel Palencia, José Alvarado, Eduard Bazardo and Angel Zerpa. Ex-Met José Buttó (dealt to the Giants in the trade for Tyler Rogers at the 2025 deadline) is also there to provide relief. He’s made 15 career starts, so maybe he is an option to do that as well. The ‘pen also includes Carlos Guzman, a 27-year-old right-hander who pitched to a 2.95 ERA in 42 2/3 innings at Double-A Binghamton last season.

Notable Coaches

The manager is Astros bench coach Omar López, who was also at the helm for Team Venezuela in 2023. Johan Santana is one of his two pitching coaches. Miguel Cabrera is a hitting coach.

WBC History

Venezuela has competed in all six editions of the WBC, which started in 2006. Its best showing came in 2009, when a team that included the hitting coach Cabrera, Felix Hernandez, Francisco Rodriguez, Melvin Mora, Bobby Abreu and Endy Chavez advanced to the semifinals before losing to South Korea.

In 2023, Venezuela went 4-0 in pool play before dropping a 9-7 heartbreaker to the United States in the quarterfinals. Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning.

Pool

Venezuela is in Pool D with the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Netherlands and Nicaragua. Its first game is against the Netherlands on March 6 at loanDepot Park in Miami. Each team plays everyone in their pool once, and the top two teams move on to the quarterfinals. Tiebreakers, starting with head-to-head, will be used if necessary.

It would be an upset if Venezuela and the Dominican Republic don’t advance. The Netherlands is considered the third-best team in the pool.

For a ranking of all 20 teams by MMO’s Robert Colonna, click here.

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