Dominican Republic Stars Crush Homers in WBC Tuneup vs. Tigers

Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Junior Caminero all went deep in the exhibition game.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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In a World Baseball Classic tuneup game against the Detroit Tigers, stars from the Dominican Republic national team put on an impressive power display. Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Junior Caminero each hit massive home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, helping the DR take an 8-4 lead over the Tigers.

Why it matters

The Dominican Republic is considered one of the favorites to win the upcoming World Baseball Classic, and this exhibition game showcased the team's offensive firepower. With a stacked lineup featuring multiple MLB superstars, the DR will be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.

The details

Soto, Machado, and Caminero all went deep against Tigers reliever Brant Hurter in the fourth inning. Soto's homer to center field made it a 6-4 game, then Machado followed with a shot over the left field wall. Caminero capped the onslaught with a line drive home run to right, putting the DR up 8-4.

  • The exhibition game took place on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • The Dominican Republic will begin the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, March 5, 2026 with a matchup against Venezuela.

The players

Juan Soto

A star outfielder for the New York Mets and one of the Dominican Republic's top players.

Manny Machado

A veteran third baseman and one of the leaders of the Dominican Republic national team.

Junior Caminero

A rising young star for the Tampa Bay Rays who is making his WBC debut for the Dominican Republic.

Brant Hurter

The Detroit Tigers reliever who surrendered the three home runs to the Dominican Republic players.

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What’s next

The Dominican Republic will begin their World Baseball Classic campaign on Thursday, March 5, 2026 with a matchup against Venezuela.

The takeaway

The Dominican Republic's offensive firepower on display in this exhibition game against the Tigers is a clear indication that they will be one of the teams to beat in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. With a lineup stacked with MLB superstars, the DR is primed for a deep tournament run.