Failing to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 WBC sent shockwaves through Colombian baseball. Unable to look ahead to March 2026, Colombia travelled to Tucson last spring for a tricky four-team tournament with Brazil, China, and Germany.
With 5-0, 8-1, and 10-0 victories – that’s a combined 23-1 – booked Colombia’s passage to the upper echelons of world baseball. Don’t count them out — they could spring a surprise in Pool A.
World Baseball Classic: Pool A
Colombia
- WBC best results: Never made it out of the pool group
- Current world ranking: 13
- Manager: Neder Horta
What happened at the last WBC?
What happened? Oh, I’ll tell you what happened. Colombia unexpectedly took down Mexico, the eventual group winners, in the WBC opener.
I was sitting in my car inching towards the Chase Field car park when the stadium doors burst open. Suddenly, it was a tidal wave of blue and yellow. Fans singing at full volume, drums pounding, horns blaring – a full-blown street party formed around my very stationary, very vulnerable vehicle.
I was anxious to get into the stadium for the next game, GB v USA. I wasn’t in a carnival mood. And I’ll tell you who else wasn’t, the solemn procession of green jerseys. Mexican fans completely bewildered that they had lost the “easy” opening game.
With Colombia losing later pool games to the USA and Canada, the stakes for the clash against Great Britain were high and straightforward. Win, and automatic qualification to the 2026 WBC was assured. Lose, and they would have to participate in an erratic WBC qualification tournament.
I say erratic, because it’s amazing how many MLB players are available for the high-profile WBC finals with the world’s eyes watching, yet unavailable for the low-key qualifiers in Tucson or Taipei.
If you need a refresher on what happened in the crucial GB v Colombia game, may I direct you to this article, though the headline is probably a spoiler.
Big respect to Colombia for qualifying emphatically, with victories over Germany, Brazil, and China in Tucson last March.
Colombia: Three to watch
Jose Quintana: I’ll never understand baseball. I don’t understand why the left-hander, who has thrown 500+ innings since 2022 with a 3.53 ERA, had no offseason suitors other than the Colorado Rockies. The 37-year-old signed a one-year, $6 million deal, which appears to be a great move for Colorado. Last season, Quintana made 24 starts with a 3.96 ERA – the last Rockies 24-game starter with a sub-4.00 ERA was Jon Gray in 2019.
Gio Urshela: He played in all four games of their 2023 WBC campaign, going 0-for-14. The 2025 season wasn’t great for him either – he was DFA’d by the A’s after 59 games with a .613 OPS – but has now latched on with the Twins. With over 3,000 MLB plate appearances, the 34-year-old may not offer much given his current form, but he brings tremendous experience to the Colombian team.
Harold Ramirez: Ramirez spent last season in the Mexican League, where he slashed .312/.412/.496, but Tampa Bay fans will recall him as a useful outfielder who finished his three-year stint with the Rays with a nice, round .300 batting average.
Potential X-factor
Michael Arroyo: Former Top 100 prospect within the Mariners organisation. As a 20-year-old last season, Seattle’s future second baseman hit 17 homers with 12 stolen bases across High-A and Double-A.
Verdict
Colombia’s roster may feel less flashy than many others, but with experience on their side – and the 2023 upset over Mexico fresh in memory – anything can happen in this one-off format.
Featured image of Colombia celebrating victory over Germany in the WBC qualifier by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Don’t forget to check out the Bat Flips & Nerds WBC Preview podcast
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