Chicago White Sox reliever Seranthony Domínguez dreamed of representing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic since he was a kid.
“It means a lot for me,” Domínguez recently said. “I feel really excited. And happy too. And ready to go.”
That sentiment was shared by other Sox and Cubs players involved in the WBC.
“I feel like everyone takes great pride in being from the United States and being able to represent the United States,” Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman said before the tournament. “Playing with Team USA builds a really good bond, and we’ve shared that with each team that I’ve been on for the last five times. So I’m looking forward to doing it with these guys.”
With games underway, here’s a closer look at the Cubs and Sox connections.
Who is participating?
Between the Cubs and Sox, 17 players and prospects will be representing their countries in the WBC.
Bregman and two Cubs teammates, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and left-hander Matthew Boyd, are suiting up for Team USA. The Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki, who will play center field in the WBC, and Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami are reuniting for Japan.
Suzuki is eager to play in the WBC after an oblique injury forced him to withdraw shortly before the 2023 tournament.
“I’ve always wanted to play for Team Japan. It is something special,” Suzuki said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry at spring training. “It’s something I’m looking forward to and that I can keep that experience going and learn a lot.”
Eight other Cubs players and prospects are competing: Right-hander Javier Assad is one of Mexico’s top pitchers; right-hander Daniel Palencia should get the biggest relief moments for Venezuela; Miguel Amaya and Christian Bethancourt, a nonroster invitee to spring training, are teaming up behind the plate for Panama, which also has pitching prospect Erian Rodríguez; pitching prospect Yacksel Ríos will be part of Puerto Rico’s bullpen; infield prospect BJ Murray is playing for Great Britain; and right-hander Jameson Taillon gives a boost to Canada’s pitching staff.
Taillon’s connection to Canada can be traced to his maternal grandmother, who came to Canada as a refugee from Hungary during World War II. Both of his parents were raised there before moving to the United States. Taillon reportedly will start Canada’s pool-play game Sunday against Panama.
“I’m really grateful the Cubs are working with me on this, and Team Canada is very open to whatever I’m willing to give them,” Taillon said.
Sox catcher Kyle Teel and infielder Sam Antonacci are on Team Italy; Teel’s mother is of Italian ancestry. Domínguez is part of a stacked Dominican roster. And Sox infielder Curtis Mead will represent Australia after being unavailable to aid his country in the 2023 WBC.
“Last time they went, I was unfortunately hurt,” Mead recently said. “Got to watch them get out of the group stage. Was pretty special. That was super humbling, just to be a part of that.
“I’m excited. … Looking forward to going over there and hopefully accomplishing the same thing.”
Of the five Sox players competing, Murakami is the only one with previous experience in the event. He hit a two-run, walk-off double in a semifinal victory over Mexico in 2023 and a game-tying solo home run off Merrill Kelly of Team USA in the final.
He said the work at Sox camp before leaving for Tokyo was beneficial.
“A lot of this is really helping me prepare for the WBC,” Murakami recently said through an interpreter.
Murakami has the mindset of “going to go into every single game to win it, and that’s my fullest goal.”
Who are other players of note to watch?
Former Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez is the oldest player in the event. The 44-year-old, who last played in the big leagues in 2016, will play for Cuba.
Ramirez was a teammate of current Sox general manager Chris Getz in 2008-09.
“It was very clear, the love and the passion that he has for baseball,” Getz said last month. “And that clearly has not gone away. So for him to get a chance to do that is very cool, and he’ll be a fun player to follow in this.”
Team Brazil’s Joseph Contreras, the son of former Sox pitcher José Contreras, is the youngest player in the tournament at 17.
Two former Cubs prospects are also back in the WBC.
Owen Caissie, the centerpiece in the Edward Cabrera trade with the Miami Marlins, is playing for Canada again in what should be a bigger role for the 23-year-old outfielder. First baseman Matt Mervis, now in the Washington Nationals organization, represents Israel in his second WBC.
What are some of the big games to watch?
The U.S. and Japan could meet again in the WBC final March 17 in Miami. Japan won 3-2 three years ago when Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out.
To get back to the final, both teams will need to take care of business in pool play. Mexico presents the toughest challenge for the U.S. in Pool B, which also features Italy, Great Britain and Brazil. Team USA begins the tournament Friday versus Brazil.
“Assad is in our pool, it’s going to be really fun,” Crow-Armstrong said during Cubs camp. “I watched as a fan in ’23 and I had a blast watching (Caissie) play for Canada. I’m just excited to have a different perspective on our game.
“It’s cool, I was BJ Murray’s roommate in Tennessee two, three years ago, and now he’s the first baseman for Great Britain and I’m playing and getting to watch him field level instead of in the stands. So it’s all special stuff. I’m really proud of everybody that’s going.”
Taillon and Amaya will face off Sunday, a potentially important game for Canada’s and Panama’s chances to advance in a pool that includes Puerto Rico. Palencia and Venezuela will challenge Domínguez and the Dominican Republic at the top of Pool D, their head-to-head matchup coming in their last game of pool play Wednesday.
“Putting that name on my chest is going to be awesome,” Palencia said last week. “I’m excited. I feel proud for that and am ready to go.”
Sox players Murakami and Mead square off Sunday when Australia faces Japan in Tokyo. And Italy’s Teel and Antonacci take on Team USA on Tuesday in Houston.
“Usually in the spring, you ramp up, you’ve got back field, spring training and then you’ve got games in the big stadium,” Teel said. “But (the WBC is) like zero to 100, and that excites me. I love that feeling. I love that excitement.”
