Red Sox Players to Watch in the World Baseball Classic
If one is looking for a fantastic display of international sport and isn’t necessarily eager to invest in snow pants and book an expensive flight to Milan, they should turn their attention to the diamond. The World Baseball Classic is set to begin on March 5th, as the world's best players represent their home nations on an increasingly thrilling and notable stage. The last WBC, played in 2023 due to COVID-19 rescheduling, concluded with an all-time great moment. Shohei Ohtani, representing Japan, struck out Team USA’s Mike Trout in a battle for the ages. Though it may be hard to top that, Japan looks to repeat with another strong team, and the tournament in general promises great games with great players. Many of those players will be representing not only their countries, but their MLB franchises as well. The Boston Red Sox are sending 14 of their players to the Classic in March, representing 10 nations.
The list of athletes and affiliations is: Wilyer Abreu from Venezuela, Jack Anderson from Great Britain, Bryan Bello from the Dominican Republic, Wilson Contreras also from Venezuela, Jarren Duran from Mexico, Nate Eaton also from Great Britain, Tayron Guerrero from Colombia, Jovani Moran from Puerto Rico, Ceddane Rafaela of the Netherlands, Eduardo Rivera also from Puerto Rico, Ranger Suarez of Venezuela, Greg Weissert of Italy, Garret Whitlock from the United States, and Masataka Yoshida hailing from Japan. It is worth noting that not all the listed players are on the Red Sox major league roster, but all are affiliated with the franchise, and these are the names given by MLB. The Classic is an opportunity for lesser-known MLB athletes and players striving for a roster spot to showcase their skills in a different setting. In just a few short weeks in March, someone’s life can permanently change.
For a Red Sox team with October ambitions, the coaches and organization will be keeping a watchful eye on the players in the tournament. Many are making their WBC debut, and perhaps an unexpected hero will emerge and demonstrate potential value for the Sox. Some players are returning to international ball and hope to add to their existing resumes. Duran is a returning force for Team Mexico, looking to correct his quiet 2023 showing. That tournament was before his breakout 2024 season; perhaps Mexico hopes for more from the outfielder. Masataka lit up the Classic in 2023, hitting .409 over 22 at-bats for the eventual champion of Japan. His return trip, even in the wake of injury, could be explosive. Ceddane Rafaela became something of a walk-off legend during the 2025 MLB season, sending the Red Sox home happy in dramatic fashion on more than one occasion. He could do the same for his first outing with the Netherlands. Suarez, a new signee, could offer a preview of his pitching for the upcoming season. It will be baseball’s best on display all month, and Sox fans will watch to see if their players can rise to the top.
