Netherlands' Ozzie Albies Hits Historic WBC Walk-Off HR

Atlanta Braves star's three-run blast lifts Netherlands over Nicaragua in World Baseball Classic

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Ozzie Albies hit a dramatic three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Netherlands to a comeback victory over Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. Albies' historic blast was the first walk-off homer ever in the tournament's history.

Why it matters

The Netherlands' thrilling win keeps them in contention in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic, a prestigious international baseball tournament. Albies' heroics also showcase the talent and clutch ability of the Atlanta Braves' star second baseman on the global stage.

The details

With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Netherlands rallied with two outs. Ceddanne Rafaela singled and Xander Bogaerts doubled to set the stage for Albies, who crushed the first pitch he saw from reliever Angel Obando over the right field wall for the game-winning three-run homer.

  • The game-winning home run occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • The Netherlands and Nicaragua were playing in Pool D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Miami, Florida.

The players

Ozzie Albies

The Atlanta Braves second baseman hit the historic walk-off home run to lead the Netherlands to victory.

Dusty Baker

The manager of the Nicaragua national team, who has extensive MLB experience including winning the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros.

Angel Obando

The Nicaragua relief pitcher who surrendered the game-winning home run to Albies in the bottom of the ninth inning.

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What they’re saying

“Time to celebrate. The moment I hit it … I felt just like that. It hit the perfect spot on the bat, so I was really happy it happened at the right time.”

— Ozzie Albies (foxsports.com)

“That was bad luck for us. They say it's a game of inches; that ball just hit the third base bag and bounced over.”

— Dusty Baker, Nicaragua Manager (foxsports.com)

What’s next

The Netherlands will look to build on this dramatic win when they face the Dominican Republic on Sunday and Israel on Tuesday in their remaining Pool D games. Nicaragua, now 0-2 in the tournament, must win their final two games to have a chance of advancing.

The takeaway

Ozzie Albies' heroics in the World Baseball Classic showcase the Atlanta Braves star's ability to deliver in the clutch on the global stage. The Netherlands' thrilling comeback victory also highlights the unpredictable nature of the tournament, where any team can pull off a dramatic win.