The fan favorite Czechia -- a team consisting almost entirely of amateur players born and developed in the Czech Republic -- has a new Major Leaguer joining the team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Though second baseman Eric Sogard will have to miss the tournament due to injury (his brother, Alex, also represented Czechia at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers), former Orioles super utility man Terrin Vavra is stepping in to give the nation some big league representation.
"He's like Eric's clone -- just 10 years younger," manager Pavel Chadim said. "He's a left-hander with pull power, he flies around the bases and -- on a human level -- he has great character. I'm absolutely certain that his joy about being on our team and representing his ancestors' country is genuine."
In 68 big league games, Vavra -- whose great-grandfather is from Czechia -- has played second base, third base, and at the outfield corners, though will likely be asked to man the infield for the national team. His lone big league home run came in 2022.
While the Czechs are fresh off a bronze medal run at the 2025 Baseball European Championship -- the first medal the team has ever earned -- it will be an uphill battle in a difficult Tokyo pool. They'll have to face the reigning champions Japan, Chinese Taipei -- which won the 2024 Premier12 -- Korea and Australia. Barring changes to rules for a future edition of the tournament, Czechia will need to win at least one game to avoid having to play in another Qualifier.