Padres Star Confident Dominican Republic Will Beat 'Nasty' Team Japan in WBC

Fernando Tatis Jr. excited to play for his father and country in the upcoming World Baseball Classic

Feb. 22, 2026 at 3:23pm

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Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is confident the Dominican Republic will beat reigning champion Team Japan in the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic. Tatis Jr. will make his WBC debut playing alongside his father, Fernando Tatis Sr., who serves as the team's hitting coach. Despite acknowledging Japan's powerful roster, Tatis Jr. said "They're nasty, but we're going to beat them." The Dominican Republic is stacked with Caribbean stars like Juan Soto and Manny Machado as they seek global glory.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international tournament that showcases the best baseball talent from around the world. As one of the sport's rising superstars, Tatis Jr.'s confidence in the Dominican Republic's ability to win the title will only add to the hype and anticipation surrounding the event.

The details

Tatis Jr. will be making his WBC debut when the tournament kicks off on March 5 in Miami. He'll be joining a star-studded Dominican Republic roster that includes fellow MLB standouts like Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and his Padres teammate Yuki Matsui, who plays for Team Japan. Despite the Dominican Republic facing the reigning champion Japanese squad, which features Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tatis Jr. expressed no shortage of confidence in his team's ability to come out on top.

  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to start on March 5 and end on March 17 in Miami.

The players

Fernando Tatis Jr.

A superstar outfielder for the San Diego Padres who will be making his debut for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Fernando Tatis Sr.

The hitting coach for the Dominican Republic national team and the father of Fernando Tatis Jr.

Albert Pujols

The manager of the Dominican Republic national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Shohei Ohtani

A star player for Team Japan, the reigning champions of the World Baseball Classic.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A star pitcher for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely what you dream about as a kid. I've always wanted to do it. This came at the right time. I'm really happy it's going to happen. It's going to be a beautiful experience.”

— Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres Superstar

“They're nasty, but we're going to beat them.”

— Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres Superstar

What’s next

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to begin on March 5, with the championship game taking place on March 17 in Miami.

The takeaway

The upcoming World Baseball Classic is shaping up to be an epic showdown, with the star-studded Dominican Republic squad led by the confident and charismatic Fernando Tatis Jr. determined to take down the reigning champion Japanese team. This tournament promises to showcase the best baseball talent from around the world and deliver high-stakes, international bragging rights.