© Sam Navarro/Imagn
Detroit Tigers star Javi Baez experienced a career resurgence in 2025, making his first MLB All-Star Game appearance in six years. But despite the comeback, Baez was not selected to play for his native Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.
Baez did play for Puerto Rico in 2023, but won’t be back this time around. Many assumed that, like fellow Puerto Rican star Francisco Lindor, Baez was left out because his insurance failed to cover playing in the tournament, leading to a number of financial complications.
As it turns out, that’s far from the case.
Javi Baez Failed Drug Test At 2023 World Baseball Classic With Puerto Rico
Even Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported Friday that Baez was left off of Puerto Rico’s team for the 2026 edition of the competition because he failed a drug test while with the team in 2023.
“Báez is not eligible to participate in the 2026 WBC because he is serving a suspension for cannabis, according to a person with knowledge of the situation,” Petzold reports. “The 33-year-old tested positive for the substance in an exam conducted March 12, 2023, during the 2023 WBC.
“As a result of the positive test, Báez received a two-year period of ineligibility – April 26, 2024, to April 26, 2026 – from World Baseball Softball Confederation events.”
Because the failed test was not for a performance-enhancing drug, it did not affect Baez’s status with Major League Baseball.
In fact, Major League Baseball does not even test for marijuana, and it was also removed from the list of prohibited substances for minor league players.
According to the report, the MLB and MLBPA worked together to seek eligibility for Baez in the World Baseball Classic, but their efforts were not successful.
It’s an unfortunate, yet self-inflicted blow for Baez. But more than that, it’s a big hit for a Puerto Rico team that is lacking for star power in 2026.