2023 World Baseball Classic: Puerto Rico Team Preview

The 2023 World Baseball Classic kicks off March 7, the first edition of this tournament since 2017. Puerto Rico has finished in second place in each of the last two WBCs, after finishing sixth in both 2006 and 2009. This is the year they look to be the bride instead of the bridesmaid. The 2023 WBC is must-watch TV for all baseball lovers with the most talent-packed rosters to date. 

It will be tough to top what happened in 2017 when USA’s center fielder Adam Jones robbed his former Orioles teammate Manny Machado of a HR in an elimination game versus the Dominican Republic with the world watching. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we see something that we’ll remember for years. 

Puerto Rico Team Preview: WBC 2023

Puerto Rico opens its 2023 WBC tournament against Nicaragua on March 11 in Miami. Puerto Rico is part of the Pool D group along with the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel and  Nicaragua. There won’t be time to rest, as the Puerto Rican club faces Ronald Acuña Jr. and Venezuela the following day. (Check out the entire World Baseball Classic schedule.)

Here’s the WBC bracket (via MLB.com), with the WBC Championship being played March 21 in Miami. 

WBC: Puerto Rico Roster

Puerto Rico’s roster is filled with MLB studs. Their lineup is stacked even with shortstop Carlos Correa opting out recently as he and his wife await the birth of their second child. Luckily they still have Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor anchoring the infield. While their lineup is clearly their strength, P.R. has a number of talented arms that are certainly good enough to make a deep run, with José Berríos and Marcus Stroman at the top of the rotation. Stroman was the WBC MVP back in 2017 for the United States, but his mother is Puerto Rican which makes him eligible for both clubs. We could see manager Yadier Molina, yes, the Cardinals legend, roll out a lineup that looks something like this: 

1. Kiké Hernández
2. Francisco Lindor
3. Eddie Rosario 
4. Javier Báez
5. Jose Miranda
6. MJ Melendez 
7. Christian Vázquez
8. Neftali Soto
9. Emmanuel Rivera

WBC: Puerto Rico Pitchers

The Puerto Rico pitching staff is led by Marcus Stroman and José Berríos. Team Puerto Rico’s starting rotation should look something like this:

• Marcus Stroman
• José Berríos
• Dereck Rodríguez 
• Héctor Santiago

The bullpen is stacked with talented arms, including one of the best relief pitchers in baseball, Edwin Díaz. Puerto Rico will also rely on Jorge López, Emilio Pagán, Alexis Díaz and other arms out of the bullpen. 

Puerto Rico WBC History

• 2006: 5th
• 2009: 5th
• 2013: 2nd
• 2017: 2nd 

Team Puerto Rico Betting Odds 

via DraftKings Sportsbook

• Puerto Rico to Win WBC: +2400
• Puerto Rico to Win Group – Pool D: +550 

Be sure to check out the rest of our World Baseball Classic team previews at FTNBets.