Braves Stars Prep for World Baseball Classic

Acuña Jr. and Albies among Braves players representing their home countries

Feb. 19, 2026 at 12:23am

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Several Atlanta Braves players, including Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies, will soon depart spring training to represent their home countries in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Braves plan to handle their WBC participants differently as they ramp up for the international tournament.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international baseball tournament that features many of the sport's top stars. Braves players participating in the WBC will gain valuable experience representing their national teams, but the team must also carefully manage their workloads to ensure they are ready for the MLB season.

The details

Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will play for Venezuela, while second baseman Ozzie Albies, outfielder Jurickson Profar, and catcher Chadwick Tromp will represent the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. The Braves plan to handle their WBC participants differently as they prepare for the tournament.

  • The World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place in 2026.

The players

Ronald Acuña Jr.

An outfielder for the Atlanta Braves who will play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Ozzie Albies

A second baseman for the Atlanta Braves who will play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Jurickson Profar

An outfielder for the Atlanta Braves who will play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Chadwick Tromp

A catcher for the Atlanta Braves who will play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Walt Weiss

The manager of the Atlanta Braves.

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What they’re saying

“I like position players playing in WBC”

— Walt Weiss, Braves Manager

The takeaway

The Braves' participation in the World Baseball Classic highlights the global reach of the sport and the opportunity for their players to represent their home countries on the international stage. However, the team must carefully manage their players' workloads to ensure they are prepared for the upcoming MLB season.