As soon as San Juan was confirmed as a host venue, you can imagine Puerto Rico fans already making travel plans to Miami for the knockout stages.
Then came the real knockout blow when Puerto Rico felt victimised by the insurance small print that deemed many of their superstar players ineligible. No Carlos Correa. No Francisco Lindor. There is also no Javier Baez, but the reason for that deserves its own article.
World Baseball Classic: Pool A
Puerto Rico
- WBC best results: Two runner-up finishes
- Current world ranking: 7
- Manager: Yadier Molina
The World Baseball Classic flows through the two-time World Series winner’s veins. He played for Puerto Rico in 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2017, and will now manage them for the second time, aiming to go two steps further than last year’s quarter-final exit.
What happened at the last WBC?
Pool D in 2023 was the cliché Group of Death, with only two spots to the knockout stage and three baseball juggernauts: Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Venezuela clinched the pool, and Puerto Rico snatched the second qualifying spot away from the star-studded Dominican Republic. In the quarter-final, like so many games of the 2023 WBC, it was edge-of-the-seat excitement.
Puerto Rico sprinted to a 4-0 lead in the first, gave up a couple of odd runs but still held the lead at the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and down to his last strike, Isaac Paredes drove a two-run single to tie the scores, before Alex Verdugo scored the winning run.
Puerto Rico: Three to watch
Heliot Ramos: The former first-round pick has enjoyed two straight 20-homer seasons since establishing himself in the Giants’ outfield. Breaking news: according to reports, Ramos has arrived at Spring Training in Scottsdale in the “best shape of his life.” – This may be the only good news Puerto Rico has received in the last four weeks.
Nolan Arenado: The 10-time Gold Glove Award winner represented the USA last time around, but has switched allegiance to Puerto Rico to honour his mother’s heritage. What do you mean, it’s because he wouldn’t get in the US team? Don’t be so cynical.
Elmer Rodriguez: A hugely exciting Yankees minor league pitcher, who as a 21-year-old last year, posted a 2.58 ERA across three minor-league levels. He came to the Bronx in the deal that sent Carlos Narvaez to Boston.
Potential X-factor
Edwin Diaz: He might be the best closer on the planet, and now he has signed with the Dodgers. After posting a 1.63 ERA and securing 28 saves with the Mets last year, the 31-year-old will have his mind firmly set on WBC redemption.
During the 2023 tournament, Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory against the Dominican Republic. He missed the entire 2023 season and is probably part of the reason for the stricter insurance issues that are hampering the tournament.
Verdict
Nothing brings a nation together like adversity, and Puerto Rico has suffered plenty of recent adversity. The loss of Correa, Baez, Lindor and the others, will hand opportunities to equally proud Puerto Ricans. Don’t be surprised if someone like Mr Versatile Willi Castro, Reds’ prospect Edwin Arroyo, or even a resurgent Seth Lugo become a national hero.
Featured image of Edwin Diaz celebrating Puerto Rico’s win in the WBC 2023 by Eric Espada/Getty Images
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