One of the great questions for the Venezuelan team at the World Baseball Classic was whether or not Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. would be able to represent his home country this year.
That question was finally answered when rosters were unveiled, and Acuña was among the names in the Venezuela outfield. The star’s fate was left up to the Braves medical staff after he tore his ACL in 2021 despite playing in 2022, and in January he said he probably wouldn’t be able to play, per The Athletic.
Acuña, however, was on the final rosters unveiled in February, joining a team that gets a huge boost with him. Venezuela has familiar faces both old and new in this year’s WBC, including veteran Miguel Cabrera, for what will probably be one last ride at the World Baseball Classic, 2022 World Series champions José Altuve and Luis García. There’s also plenty of relatively unheralded solid pitching, including Martín Pérez, Pablo López, and Ranger Suárez.
AL batting average champ Luis Arráez will be playing in his new home ballpark during pool play, and budding Guardians star Andrés Giménez is another major name in the Venezuela infield.
Venezuela World Baseball Classic 2023 roster
The Venezuela roster is talented, but it’s also admittedly top-heavy.
Ronald Acuña Jr. and José Altuve are the two biggest teams representing Venezuela, with Andrés Giménez and Luis Arráez being among the next tier of players on the list. Miguel Cabrera being on a roster with Acuña is especially cool, as the two have praised each other in the past. In fact, according to Cabrera at least year’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles Acuña — not Miggy himself — is Cabrera’s son’s favorite player.
The Venezuela pitching staff is also better than it will get credit for. Martín Pérez had a solid season for the Rangers last year, and Twins fans can get a look at Pablo López after trading for him this offseason.
| Player | Team | Throws |
| José Alvarado | Philadelphia Phillies | L |
| Silvino Bracho | Cincinnati Reds | R |
| Jhoulys Chacín | Leones del Caracas | R |
| Luis García | Houston Astros | R |
| Carlos Hernández | Kansas City Royals | R |
| Darwinzon Hernández | Baltimore Orioles | L |
| Pablo López | Minnesota Twins | R |
| Andrés Machado | Washington Nationals | R |
| Martín Pérez | Texas Rangers | L |
| José Quijada | Los Angeles Rangers | L |
| José Ruiz | Chicago White Sox | R |
| Ranger Suárez | Philadelphia Phillies | L |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Robinson Chironos | Navegantes del Magallanes | R/R |
| Omar Narváez | New York Mets | L/R |
| Salvador Peréz | Kansas City Royals | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| José Altuve | Houston Astros | SS | R/R |
| Luis Arráez | Miami Marlins | 2B | L/R |
| Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers | 1B | R/R |
| Eduardo Escobar | New York Mets | 3B | S/R |
| Andrés Giménez | Cleveland Guardians | 2B/SS | L/R |
| Luis Rengifo | Los Angeles Angels | UTIL | S/R |
| Miguel Rojas | Los Angeles Dodgers | UTIL | R/R |
| Eugenio Suárez | Seattle Mariners | 3B | R/R |
| Gleyber Torres | New York Yankees | 2B/SS | R/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | RF | R/R |
| David Peralta | Los Angeles Dodgers | LF | L/L |
| Anthony Santander | Baltimore Orioles | OF | S/R |
Venezuela players to watch
Venezuela is carrying just three outfielders, including Ronald Acuña Jr. and David Peralta. The Orioles’ Anthony Santander will likely be a de facto centerfielder, but there isn’t a pure centerfielder on the roster.
Venezuela has some options in the infield. Miguel Cabrera likely won’t be playing in the filed much. He’s looking to homer in his fifth straight World Baseball Classic. The middle of the infield will allow for a lot of choice, with 2022 AL batting champion Luis Arráez, José Altuve, Andrés Giménez, Luis Rengifo, and Miguel Rojas all being capable of playing multiple positions alongside Gleyber Torres. Eugenio Suárez and and Eduardo Escobar can share the hot corner.
The pitching staff is deep as well, with the starters being among the better rotations competing. Pablo López, Martín Pérez, Ranger Suárez, and Luis García are all completely viable starters, and José Alvarado will be one of the stronger bullpen arms in the tournament.
Who is coaching Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic?
Astros first base coach Omar López will be managing Venezuela.
López has a deep history with Venezuela, having managed in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in the 2014 season, when he led the Caribes de Anzoátegui to a championship at just age 38. He was the youngest manager in the league and won Manager of the Year.
López joined the Astros in 1999 and was partially responsible for the signing of Altuve. He was an MiLB manager in the Astros organization from 2008 to 2019, finally getting brought up as a first base coach in 2020.
The hiring of López for Venezuela is very much a merit-based one. The Astros’ World Series win in 2022 was the first of his career, as he was still in the minors for the Astros’ first championship.
Venezuela World Baseball Classic history
Venezuela has entered the World Baseball Classic with high expectations every year, but it has never quite lived up to them.
The best finish Venezuela has had was in 2009, when it finished third after going 6-2 in the tournament.
Venezuela hasn’t made it out of the second round in any of the other iterations of the tournament, although there’s a good argument to be made this is the best roster it’s fielded yet. With that being said, Pool D is going to be staunchly competitive, with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela all likely making very strong runs.
| Year | Result | Final game |
| 2006 | Eliminated in second round | 2-1 loss to Dominican Republic |
| 2009 | Third place | 10-2 loss to South Korea |
| 2013 | Eliminated in pools | 11-6 loss to Spain |
| 2017 | Eliminated in second round | 13-2 loss to Puerto Rico |
| 2023 | TBD | TBD |
Venezuela World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule
Venezuela will be in the fiercely competitive Pool D alongside the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Israel.
There’s a good chance Venezuela finds itself battling with Puerto Rico for the second spot, as it’s difficult to bet against the Dominican Republic making it out.
With the games being played at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Venezuela will start against the Dominican Republic on March 11.
Pool play will conclude against Israel on March 15.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| March 11 | Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 12 | Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 14 | Nicaragua vs. Venezuela | 12 p.m. | FS2 |
| March 15 | Venezuela vs. Israel | 12 p.m. | FS2 |
Source: sporting news
