Trending Now - Marlins' Alcantara Turns Attention to Opening Day After Classic
WHO:
Bryce Harper, Team USA player, stated, “I can’t dance a lick, like [Fernando] Tatis can, but I can have fun playing this game.”
Paul Skenes, Team USA pitcher, expressed a desire to bring the World Baseball Classic experience to Pittsburgh.
President Trump, Team USA players, Oneil Cruz, Tarik Skubal, Sandy Alcantara, Clayton Kershaw, Gregory Soto, Dennis Santana, Albert Pujols, Daniel Moskos, Agustín Ramírez, Owen Caissie, Jakob Marsee, Max Meyer, Connor Norby, Dawn Klemish, Christina De Nicola
WHAT:
Sandy Alcantara will make his franchise-leading sixth Opening Day start on March 27th, 2026, against the Colorado Rockies.
Agustín Ramírez started at catcher for the Marlins on March 17th, 2026, going 0-for-3 in the game.
Owen Caissie played five games for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, finishing with a batting average of .412 (7-for-17) with three doubles, one home run, and five RBIs.
Team USA won the World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Dominican Republic with a score of 2-1.
Oneil Cruz returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup after participating in the World Baseball Classic, contributing to a 10-2 loss against the Houston Astros.
Cruz finished 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits, including a 450-foot home run.
Sandy Alcantara struck out five Mets and allowed two runs over four innings in a Grapefruit League game.
The Dominican Republic had 36,337 attendees at loanDepot park during the semifinal match.
The Dominican Republic team hit 14 home runs, tying the WBC record, and later broke it with Junior Caminero's home run.
Agustín Ramírez finished 1-for-6 with an RBI double during the World Baseball Classic.
WHERE:
The World Baseball Classic final will take place at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
The World Baseball Classic took place at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
The Pittsburgh Pirates' game against the Houston Astros was held at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.
Sandy Alcantara's game was in Jupiter, Florida.
WHEN:
The World Baseball Classic final is scheduled for March 19th, 2026.
The World Baseball Classic semifinal occurred on March 15th, 2026.
Oneil Cruz's first at-bat back with the Pirates was on March 17th, 2026.
Sandy Alcantara pitched on March 17th, 2026, and will start on March 27th, 2026, for Opening Day against the Colorado Rockies.
WHY:
Players returned from the World Baseball Classic to prepare for the MLB season and Opening Day, with Alcantara stating, “We are on time to be ready for Opening Day. Everything feels good. I’m healthy.”
Players returned from the World Baseball Classic to prepare for the MLB season and Opening Day.
Alcantara expressed a desire to pitch immediately after the Dominican Republic's elimination from the Classic.
HOW:
Alcantara communicated his readiness to pitch on March 17th, 2026, by texting his pitching coach, Daniel Moskos.
Cruz drove 4½ hours through a thunderstorm to join Team USA for the semifinal and final.
Alcantara communicated with his pitching coach via text to express his readiness to pitch after the Classic.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 17:22 UTC)
In exciting news from the baseball world, Sandy Alcantara is set to make his franchise-leading sixth Opening Day start on March 27 against the Colorado Rockies, and he expressed confidence in his readiness by texting his pitching coach just yesterday. Meanwhile, Bryce Harper, a player for Team USA, shared his enthusiasm for the game, saying he may not dance like Fernando Tatis but certainly enjoys playing. The World Baseball Classic final is just around the corner, taking place tomorrow at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, as players gear up for the upcoming MLB season.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 07:20 UTC)
In an exciting World Baseball Classic semifinal held at loanDepot park in Miami on March 15, Team USA triumphed over the Dominican Republic with a close score of 2 to 1, drawing a crowd of over 36,000 fans. After the tournament, Oneil Cruz made his return to the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 17, where he went 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits, including a remarkable 450-foot home run, despite the team suffering a 10 to 2 loss against the Houston Astros. Meanwhile, Sandy Alcantara also returned to action on the same day, striking out five Mets and allowing two runs over four innings in a Grapefruit League game, as he prepares to start on March 27 for Opening Day against the Colorado Rockies.