Baseball, family, country: These brothers teamed up in the Classic

Baseball, family and country. The three go together beautifully, and for some, all three have combined for a unique experience in the World Baseball Classic.

In the 2026 tournament, three pairs of brothers teamed up to play on the same squad: Josh and Bo Naylor for Team Canada, William and Willson Contreras for Team Venezuela and C.J. and Garrett Stubbs for Team Israel.

Those three pairs of brothers are just the latest to play together for their country. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, eight other pairs of brothers who had already made their MLB debut have appeared in the WBC since its inception in 2006. Here’s a look at each of them:

2023
Puerto Rico: Alexis & Edwin Díaz
Netherlands: Joshua & Richie Palacios

Each of the Díaz brothers has made his mark as a reliever in the big leagues. Edwin, of course, is one of the elite closers in the game and inked a three-year, $69 million deal to join the Dodgers in 2026. Entering the 2026 campaign, he owned a 2.82 ERA with 253 saves and three career All-Star selections. Alexis was an All-Star with the Reds in 2023, and he enters ’26 with a career 3.38 ERA and 75 saves over four seasons.

In the 2023 WBC, Edwin made two scoreless appearances and picked up a save for Puerto Rico, but he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a Puerto Rico victory over the Dominican Republic and had to miss the entire MLB season that year. Alexis made three appearances over which he gave up four runs in two innings.

The Palacios brothers each played in the outfield for Team Netherlands in the 2023 WBC, with Joshua going 1-for-9 and Richie going 0-for-3. Joshua played for the Blue Jays, Nationals, Pirates and White Sox from 2021-25. Richie, currently with the Rays, played for the Guardians and Cardinals before being traded to Tampa Bay in 2024.

David and Dominic Fletcher each played for Team Italy in 2023, but Dominic hadn't yet made his MLB debut (he would do so later that year for the D-backs).

2017
Colombia: Donovan & Jhonatan Solano

The Solanos combined to go 7-for-24 (.292) for Team Colombia during the 2017 WBC. Donovan was a Silver Slugger Award winner with the Giants in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, posting an .828 OPS over 253 plate appearances for San Francisco. In 12 Major League seasons, he produced a .711 OPS.

Jhonatan was a catcher for the Nationals from 2012-13, and for the Marlins in 2015.

2013
Mexico: Adrián and Edgar González
Puerto Rico: José and Yadier Molina

Adrián González belted 317 home runs during a 15-year Major League career from 2004-18, also earning five All-Star selections and four Gold Glove Awards at first base. He and his brother, Edgar, were teammates with the Padres in 2008 and ’09, and once again teamed up for Team Mexico in the WBC in both 2009 and ’13. Edgar then managed his brother and Team Mexico during the 2017 Classic.

Also in the 2013 WBC, José and Yadier Molina of the famed trio of Molina catchers joined forces to help Puerto Rico reach the semifinals. Both enjoyed lengthy Major League careers, with Yadier spending 19 seasons in the Majors and José playing 15 seasons. Yadi was a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner (four Platinum Glove Awards) and a two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals. José also won two World Series rings -- one with the Angels in 2002, and one with the Yankees in ’09.

2009
Mexico: Adrián and Edgar González
Mexico: Jerry Jr. and Scott Hairston

While they wouldn’t replicate such success in the 2013 WBC, the González brothers were productive for Team Mexico in the 2009 tournament, combining to go 9-for-33 (.273). That included two doubles and two homers from Adrián.

Team Mexico had another duo of brothers on that club, with Jerry Jr. and Scott Hairston. Baseball has been a family affair for the Hairstons for generations -- Jerry Sr. also played in the Majors, as did his father, Sam. Jerry Jr. and Scott were teammates with the Padres in 2010, with Jerry Jr. playing 16 Major League seasons and Scott playing 11.

Representing Mexico in the 2009 WBC, the Hairstons combined to go 9-for-32 (.281), with Scott connecting for a home run.

2006
Puerto Rico: Jose and Javier Valentin

Jose Valentin hit 249 homers and racked up 31.6 bWAR during a 16-year MLB career, while brother Javier played 10 Major League seasons as a catcher and first baseman. The two played together for the first time as pros during the 2006 WBC, when Jose hit .292 (7-for-24) and Javier went 1-for-2 for Puerto Rico.