Dominican Republic Dominates Tigers in WBC Tuneup

Juan Soto and top MLB prospect homer off Yankees' Luis Severino in exhibition match.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:23pm

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The Dominican Republic national baseball team got off to a strong start in their World Baseball Classic exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers, with star outfielder Juan Soto and a top MLB prospect both hitting home runs off Yankees pitcher Luis Severino.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international tournament that showcases the best baseball talent from around the world. Strong performances in exhibition games like this can build momentum and confidence for teams heading into the main tournament.

The details

In the exhibition match at Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo, Soto and an unnamed top MLB prospect both took Severino deep, setting the tone for the Dominican Republic squad. The game was part of the team's preparations for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

  • The exhibition game took place on March 14, 2026.

The players

Juan Soto

A star outfielder for the Dominican Republic national baseball team.

Luis Severino

A pitcher for the New York Yankees who was facing the Dominican Republic in the exhibition match.

Top MLB Prospect

An unnamed top MLB prospect who also hit a home run off Severino in the exhibition game.

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What they’re saying

“We came out ready to compete and show what we can do on the international stage.”

— Juan Soto

What’s next

The Dominican Republic will continue their World Baseball Classic preparations with additional exhibition games before the tournament begins.

The takeaway

The Dominican Republic's strong performance in this exhibition match against the Detroit Tigers suggests they will be a formidable team to watch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic tournament.