NEWS: World Baseball Classic opening weekend has big wins for Dominican, Puerto Rican teams
The 2026 World Baseball Classic’s opening weekend featured several key matchups from March 6–8 between teams from across Latin America including the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Nicaragua. Early games across pool play produced both tight contests and lopsided results as several contenders jumped out with strong starts, including a big four-homer win by the Dominican Republic team. March 6 marked the opening day for several teams. Cuba’s first game was a 3–1 win over Panama, powered by early home runs from Yoelkis Guibert and Yoan Moncada, while reliever Livan Moinelo delivered 3⅔ scoreless innings
NEWS: The complete 2026 World Baseball Classic schedule
Here’s the schedule for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Tournament games are from March 4-17 and play at loanDepot park in Miami, Daikin Park in Houston, Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Games will be broadcast on FS1, FS2, FOX, Tubi and the Fox Sports app. The championship game is March 17 at 8 p.m. on FOX at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. March 4 10 p.m.: Chinese Taipei vs. Australia March 5 5 a.m.: Czechia vs. Korea 10 p.m.: Australia vs. Czechia March 6 5 a.m.: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
NEWS: Ronald Acuña Jr. heads to WBC looking like an MVP again
Spring training 2026 has barely begun, but Ronald Acuńa Jr. is headed to the World Baseball Classic looking like his old self again. After a Grapefruit League game in late February, the Atlanta Braves outfielder seems like he’s on track for another monster year like his 2023 MVP season in which he smashed 41 homers and swiped 73 bases — the first 40-70 season in history. In his final spring training tune-up, the Atlanta Braves superstar crushed a grand slam and swiped two bases in the first inning, a reminder of the dynamic force he can be when healthy. Acuña
HALL OF FAME: Roberto Clemente, 1973
ROBERTO CLEMENTE Right fielder Born: August 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico Died: December 31, 1972 (age 38) off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico Bats: Right / Throws: Right Team: Pittsburgh Pirates (1955–1972) MLB debut: April 17, 1955 for the Pittsburgh Pirates Last MLB appearance: October 3, 1972 for the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame Induction: 1973 Hall of Fame plaque: Member of exclusive 3,000-hit club. Led National League in batting four times. Had four seasons with 200 or more hits while posting lifetime .317 average and 240 home runs. Won Most Valuable Player Award 1966. Rifle-armed defensive
THIS DAY IN BEISBOL February 19: Manny Machado signs 10-year, $300M deal with Padres
After a season split between the Orioles and Dodgers, Manny Machado shattered the free agent market on this day in beísbol, February 19, 2019 by signing a $10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres. The Dominican native was only 26 years old but already a seven-year veteran when he joined San Diego, which gladly inked the third baseman to the largest contract in MLB history since Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million deal with the Yankees a decade earlier. Machado immediately became the best hitter in the lineup for a team that hadn’t been to the postseason in 12 years and had
HALL OF FAME: Vladimir Guerrero, 2018
VLADIMIR GUERRERO Outfielder Born: February 9, 1975 in Nizao, Dominican Republic Hall of Fame induction: 2018 Primary team: L.A./California Angels Hall of Fame plaque: “Dazzling five-tool talent from the Dominican Republic renowned for distinctive approach in batter’s box as well as aggressive style in the field and on the basepaths. Covered the plate with an attacking swing that produced a .318 career average and 449 home runs, reached 100-RBI mark 10 times and topped 30 homers eight times. Drove in 126 runs to earn 2004 A.L. most valuable player honors in first season with Angels after eight years as Expos
THIS DAY IN BEÍSBOL February 16: A-Rod traded to the Yankees
The New York Yankees added to their all-star, big-money lineup when they traded for all-world superstar Alex Rodriguez on this day in beísbol, February 16, 2004. “A-Rod” was already a controversial lightning rod as the player everyone loved to hate when the Bombers shipped a good young hitter, Alfonso Soriano, to the Texas Rangers in 2004 in exchange for Rodriguez, who was coming off his first MVP season in 2003. Only 28 but already a ten-year vet, Rodriguez — a two-time Gold Glover and five-time Silver Slugger at shortstop with the Seattle Mariners and the Rangers — shifted over to
THIS DAY IN BEÍSBOL February 14: Johan Santana signs largest Twins contract ever
The Minnesota Twins opened its vault for pitcher Johan Santana on this day in beísbol, February 14, 2005, as the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner received a sweet Valentine Day's gift: a four-year, $40 million deal. The contract was the largest in the history of the team and essentially bought out the rest of the 26-year-old southpaw’s arbitration-eligible years and first year of free agency. The move paid off immensely for the Twins as the Venezuela native went 50-26 with a 2.99 ERA over the next three seasons, including a second Cy Young in 2006 for his 19-6, 2.77
