Guardians' Ramirez to miss start of WBC for Dominican Republic

Star third baseman may join team later in tournament after contract extension with Cleveland

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Jose Ramirez, one of the best players in baseball and a superstar for the Cleveland Guardians, will not be part of the Dominican Republic's roster for the initial rounds of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Team officials cited Ramirez's recent contract extension with the Guardians as the reason for his early absence, though he could potentially join the D.R. squad later in the tournament if they advance past the pool play stage.

Why it matters

Ramirez's absence is a significant blow to the Dominican Republic's chances of winning the WBC, as he is one of the team's top players. However, the D.R. is still favored to make it out of their pool and into the knockout rounds, where Ramirez's potential addition could make their lineup even more formidable.

The details

According to insider Francys Romero, Dominican Republic team captain Nelson Cruz announced that Ramirez will miss at least the first round of the 2026 WBC, though he could potentially join the team later in the tournament. No specific reason was given for Ramirez's early absence beyond his recent contract extension with the Guardians.

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

The players

Jose Ramirez

A superstar third baseman for the Cleveland Guardians and one of the best players in Major League Baseball.

Nelson Cruz

The captain of the Dominican Republic's WBC team who announced Ramirez's initial absence from the roster.

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What they’re saying

“José Ramírez will miss at least the first round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, though he could potentially join the team in the second round.”

— Francys Romero, Insider (X)

What’s next

If the Dominican Republic advances past the pool play stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, there is a possibility that Jose Ramirez could join the team for the knockout rounds, which would significantly boost their lineup.

The takeaway

Jose Ramirez's absence from the Dominican Republic's initial WBC roster is a significant loss, but the team is still favored to make it to the later rounds of the tournament. Ramirez's potential addition later on could make the D.R. an even more formidable opponent for the other WBC contenders.