Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu recorded 6 total hits for the Champion Venezuela Team, including 2 crucial home runs.
Roman Anthon was a star for Team USA, becoming the youngest player in tournament history to hit a home run in the semifinal/final rounds.
Maikel Garcia, who plays for the Kansas City Royals, was named the MVP of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez of the Arizona Diamondbacks was a key starter for Team Venezuela.
Red Sox players Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony play starring roles
With the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season upon us, we need to take a moment to look back at the recently concluded World Baseball Classic, won on March 17 by Venezuela over the United States. Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela) and Roman Anthony (USA) of the Boston Red Sox played starring roles for their respective teams, giving Sox fans positive feelings heading into the upcoming Major League Baseball season.
As of this writing, the entire country of Venezuela is still in full party mode following their national team’s thrilling 3-2 triumph in the WBC championship game over America-the country that deposed their president, Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3 and took over their daily lives in what has been ruled a “criminal violation of international law,” according to United Nations.
The players of Venezuela (many who make their living by playing Major League Baseball) approached this game with heavy hearts over the political situation in their country. This was more than a game to them. After sending scores of great baseball players to America (since United States Baseball was integrated), this was their chance to show the world that they are ‘the best’ at their craft. Team USA was trying to win their first WBC title since 2017. Venezuela came into the championship game seeking their first ever WBC title. As for the game itself, Venezuela grabbed a 2-0 lead before their delirious fans who packed Lone Depot Park, home of the Miami Marlins Baseball franchise.
With Venezuelan flags waving and music playing, the stadium rocked to a beat of its own. This was more than Venezuela against the United States; this was Venezuela showing the world how passionately they love the game of baseball. The only time that American fans made their presence known was when Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) smashed a dramatic game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. This was when Team Venezuela showed their true championship mettle. With Hall of Fame slugger Miquel “Miggy” Cabrera leading the cheering from his coach’s spot on the bench, Luis Arraez (San Francisco Giants-3-time Major League Baseball Batting Champion) led off the top of the ninth inning by drawing a walk off of (Red Sox reliever) Garrett Whitlock, who had been brilliant throughout the WBC competition.
Pinch runner Javier Ernesto Sanoja (who plays for the Miami Marlins) stole second base by the closet of margins, setting the stage for Eugenio Suarez (Cincinnati Reds), who drove in the winning run with a double to left center field. Relief ace Daniel Palencia (Chicago Cubs) closed the show, striking out Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) on a 98 miles per hour fastball, getting pinch hitter Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles) to pop out to 3rd, and blowing a ‘100 MPH heater’ past Roman Anthony that set off a celebration that is still going on in the country of Venezuela.
Eugenio Suarez: “This is one of the greatest moments for my country. I am so proud to have come through with the game-winning hit. My team and I thank GOD-first and foremost-for this history making event. We prayed as a team before every game we played in this World Baseball Classic. And our entire team gave thanks to GOD—with our on-the-field prayer at the conclusion of this game.” Venezuelan team captain Salvador Perez (a 15-year veteran of the Kansas City Royals): “You have to know the passion of Venezuelan people to truly understand what this World Baseball Classic
Championship means to our country. For years, we have sent some of our greatest players to the United States and now we stand at the top of the world of team baseball. This is a dream come true for every member of this team. We are heroes to the men and women of our country. And we have now placed our country on equal standing with every other nation that plays this glorious game of baseball.”
Miquel Cabrera: “While I was playing all those years in Major League Baseball (winning a World Series with the 2003 Miami Marlins), I dreamed that my country would someday win the World Baseball Classic. And now, Venezuela is here on the victory podium. We are truly blessed by God.”
For a country that is still trying to recover from the political takeover of its government by the United States, and the Venezuelan players who will now head off to play for their respective Major League Baseball teams in America this coming baseball season, this World Baseball Classic Championship (the first ever for Venezuela) is something that can only be described as incredible.
For a Venezuelan team that entered the WBC competition as a decided underdog, and ended up as the #1 baseball team in this global competition (particularly when one considers the current political state of their country), the word incredible is not an overstatement.
To the people of Venezuela, it is a joyous fact!
And while all this is transpiring, Major League Baseball will officially open its 2026 season on Wednesday, March 25. The Boston Red Sox will open their 2026 Major League Baseball campaign on Thursday, March 26, against the Reds in Cincinnati with a lineup that will feature the aforementioned Abreu and
Anthony expected to play prominent roles. But they are still considered to be behind the New York Yankees and Toronto Bluejays in the race for the top spot in the American East Division standings.