Three Players Who Appeared in FIRST World Baseball Classic in 2006 Will Play AGAIN 20 Years Later
These players are giving new meaning to the term “longevity.” Imagine playing in the inaugural game of a new tournament and then two decades later find yourself still participating. Wild. But for a trio of baseball athletes this very scenario is about to turn into reality. Three players who appeared in the FIRST World Baseball Classic in 2006 are playing AGAIN 20 years later.
The three long-timers feature two pitchers and a player that last appeared in Major League Baseball a decade ago. One has also been confirmed as the oldest player competing in this year’s tournament. And they will represent the Netherlands, Panama and Cuba. These three WBC veterans have been revealed to be:
- Alexei Ramirez (Team Cuba)
- Shairon Martis (Team Netherlands)
- Paolo Espino (Team Panama)
Three Players Who Appeared in FIRST World Baseball Classic in 2006 Will Play AGAIN 20 Years Later
The official World Baseball Classic social media page had this to say regarding Ramirez, Martis and Espino competing:
“Three players who appeared in the FIRST World Baseball Classic in 2006 are playing AGAIN 20 years later.
Alexei Ramirez played for Team Cuba in 2006 and returns to the squad in 2026, nearly 10 years after his last MLB appearance. At 44 years old, he is the oldest player in this year’s tournament.
Shairon Martis tossed the first no-hitter in tournament history as an 18-year-old in 2006 and is back on Team Netherlands this year. This will be his 5th World Baseball Classic appearance.
Paolo Espino pitched for Team Panama in 2006 and 2009 and is back in 2026. He pitched in parts of 6 MLB seasons, with his last appearance coming in 2024 with Toronto.”
The World Baseball Classic is returning to loanDepot park and Miami, Florida, the home of the Miami Marlins. The sixth installment of the Classic, which is scheduled for March 2026, follows the record-breaking 2023 tournament where loanDepot park became the first venue in tournament history to host games in all three rounds of a World Baseball Classic in the same year. In 2026, it will once again host contests in each of the three rounds in 2026, culminating with the Championship Game.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) will be held from March 5 to March 17, 2026, featuring 20 teams playing in four global cities. Pool play occurs in San Juan (Puerto Rico), Houston (USA), Tokyo (Japan), and Miami (USA), with the championship game hosted at loanDepot park in Miami on March 17.
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