Out of the around 600 players that will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, only three of them are still in college. Here’s how they ended up there.
The tournament features 20 national teams, with each carrying a roster of up to 30 active players. Tomas Lopez, Matous Bubenik, and Justin Morales are the only ones who have to miss school to play.
Brazil: Columbia University pitcher Tomas Lopez
Normally, this time of year, Tomas Lopez would be attending classes and pitching for Columbia University. Instead, he is preparing to face professional baseball players like Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
“It’s going to feel like a dream,” Tomas Lopez, a pitcher who will be playing for Brazil in the World Baseball Classic, told D1Baseball.com. “I can’t even explain it, but it’s crazy to share the same field with some of the biggest names in baseball. It’s an honor.”
He also has the full support of his college team. When the team found out he had made Brazil’s squad, Columbia coach Brett Boretti said, “It was met with a resounding ovation and excitement. And, because I’m a Red Sox fan, I hope Tomas strikes out Judge multiple times.”
In nine appearances last season, Lopez, a 6-4, 215-pound sophomore from Redondo Beach, California, went 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA and one save, striking out 17 batters in 12-1/3 innings.
Brazil will compete in Group B and will play all their games at Daikin Park in Houston from March 6-11. Group B also features the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Great Britain.
Czech Republic: UNC Wilmington catcher Matous Bubenik
Matous Bubenik, a 6-1, 210-pound catcher from UNC Wilmington, will be playing for the Czech Republic World Baseball Classic team.
He is no stranger to international competition. When he was 10-years-old Bubenik was on the Czech Republic’s junior national team, traveling to Taiwan to play in the 12U World Cup.
While playing exhibition games with the Czech Republic in South Korea in November of last year, Bubenik received word that he had been selected for the World Baseball Classic.
Bubenik will serve as a backup to Martin Cervenka, who he refers to as “the GOAT of Czech baseball.”
Pool C includes the Czech Republic, Australia, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, and host/favorite Japan. On March 5, the Czech Republic will play South Korea, and on March 10, they will take on Japan and Shohei Ohtani.
“It’s insane,” Bubenik said. “To have the opportunity, at age 20, to play against guys like Ohtani is a dream come true. It’s amazing.”
Netherlands: Bethune Cookman pitcher Justin Morales
Justin Morales, a 21-year-old from Aruba, will be pitching for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Normally, the 6-4, 210-pound righthander pitches for Bethune-Cookman.
“He has an above-average fastball, mid 90s and up to 97,” said Bethune-Cookman coach Jonathan Hernandez. “He has a 12-6 curve and a changeup, and he’s around the zone.”
He too is very familiar with the international stage. It will be Morales’ fifth tournament with the Dutch National Team, including the 2024 Under-23 World Championships.
“We played in front of a sold-out crowd in China,” said Morales, who, at age 19, was the youngest player on the team. “The crowd went nuts with every pitch I threw.”
Now he is in Miami, competing against four Pool D opponents: the Dominican Republic, with stars like Juan Soto and Julio Rodriguez; Venezuela, with players like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Jackson Chourio; Nicaragua; and Israel.