Will Mexico build on 2023 success at this year's World Baseball Classic?

Mexico’s run in the 2023 World Baseball Classic ended in a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Japan in the semifinals, but the country made it clear that its club is a force to be reckoned with.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, Mexico made it to the semifinals, picking up multiple pivotal wins along the journey to a third-place finish. With the club looking poised to make another deep run in this year’s tourney, let’s preview everything for Team Mexico for the 2026 WBC.

2023 WBC Performance

Mexico had a stunning 11-5 victory over Team USA in group play and used a big comeback to defeat Puerto Rico 5-4 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis for the first time.

The victory over USA signaled that this was a group that could legitimately win the whole thing. At the D-backs’ Chase Field, Mexico was led by a two-homer effort from Joey Meneses and three-hit games from Randy Arozarena and Rowdy Tellez to beat the U.S.

The win against the USA helped Mexico advance to the quarterfinals with a matchup against Puerto Rico. Mexico saw Puerto Rico score four runs in the top of the first inning, the only runs PR would score in the game. Mexico used a three-run seventh inning to take the lead and would ultimately hold onto the win to advance to the next round.

In its first-ever trip to the semifinals, Mexico looked like it could dethrone a loaded Japanese squad. Luis Urías crushed a three-run home run in the fourth inning to kick off the scoring and Patrick Sandoval tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings. However, Mexico couldn’t hold onto the lead and ultimately lost on a ninth-inning walk-off two-run double from Japan’s Munetaka Murakami.

2026 WBC schedule

Mexico will be a part of Pool B in Houston, along with USA, Great Britain, Italy and Brazil.

On Friday, March 6, Mexico will debut against Great Britain at 1 p.m. ET. Next up will be a matchup with Brazil on Sunday, March 8, at 8 p.m. ET. On Monday, March 9, Mexico will face the United States at 8 p.m. ET, and it will finish the first round on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. ET against Italy.

Best WBC performance

It has to be the 2023 WBC, considering Mexico made it to the semifinals for the first time and was three outs away from beating Japan and advancing to the finals for a matchup with Team USA. Even though the ending was heartbreaking, Mexico was one of the most exciting teams of the '23 tourney.

Mexico went 4-2 and outscored its opponents 37 to 24 in six games. The only two losses were by one run in pool play against Colombia (5-4) and the one-run loss against Japan in the semifinals. Between a stellar all-around performance and theatrics from Arozarena and a balanced attack on both sides of the ball, Mexico had an excellent tournament.

Biggest games in country history

In terms of WBC history, Mexico’s wins against Team USA and Puerto Rico in the 2023 edition stand alone. And while the club ultimately lost in that semifinal matchup with Japan, that proved to be one of the most exciting games in the tournament’s history.

Beyond the WBC, Mexico has also participated in several other international competitions, such as the Olympics, WBSC Premier 12 and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Mexico has seen its most success in the Central American and Caribbean Games, where the country has won six silver medals, three bronze medals and its first gold medal in the most recent competition in 2023.

Notable MLB Players

Arozarena is probably the most recognizable name on Mexico’s roster but there is plenty of other MLB talent. Some players returning from the 2023 team are Jarren Duran (Red Sox), Jonathan Aranda (Rays) and Javier Assad (Cubs). Meanwhile, Mexico has also added lockdown closer Andrés Muñoz (Mariners), Joey Ortiz (Brewers) and Robert Garcia (Rangers) into the fold. Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays) is also on the roster after having to miss the '23 Classic.

Minor League prospects

Samy Natera Jr. (Angels’ No. 20 prospect following the 2025 season) and Luis Gastelum (Cardinals’ No. 29 prospect) are the most notable prospects playing for Mexico in this WBC.

Story to watch

Can Mexico’s offense carry the club deep into this tournament? In a field that might be the most talented it’s ever been, Mexico will need its big position players to step up. Luckily, they have plenty of players capable of carrying a team for extended periods of time.

Arozarena has shown up in big moments, owns a career .777 OPS and has reached the 20-20 club in five straight seasons. Kirk is one of the best all-around catchers in baseball, a defensive stalwart at a premium position and someone who boasted a .769 OPS and career-high 15 home runs last season. Duran has been one of baseball’s most productive outfielders since his breakout season in 2024 (10.8 WAR and .805 OPS since ‘24). And Aranda has a breakout 2025 season in which he had an .883 OPS and 14 home runs in 106 games.

Question marks

Even if Mexico's hitters have a big tournament, the club will need some big performances from its pitching staff, which does not feature a surefire ace like Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal for USA, Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Japan or Cristopher Sánchez for the Dominican Republic.

That’s not to say there aren’t talented pitchers. Between Muñoz, Assad, Garcia, Taijuan Walker, Victor Vodnik and Brennan Bernardino, there are pitchers with legitimate MLB experience and varying degrees of success. With Muñoz, Garcia and Vodnik, there are some legitimately nasty arms in the bullpen. The big question will center around a rotation that’s thinner compared to other elite teams in the tournament.