Blue Jays who could be difference makers at the World Baseball Classic

With the MLB offseason winding down, players are reporting to Spring Training in the annual tradition that marks the end of winter and the beginning of baseball season. In March, however, there’s one more roadblock between now and Opening Day.

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is an international competition held every four years that pits the best baseball nations against each other in a best-of-the-best showdown. The last Classic delivered an exhilarating final in 2023, coming down to the final out in a star-studded matchup between Team Japan’s Shohei Ohtani and Team USA. Japan ultimately claimed the title and will look to defend it in 2026 with an even more talented pool of players competing.

With this in mind, it’s worth highlighting which clubs are sending their players to the international competition. The Toronto Blue Jays have a diverse cast of ballplayers headed to the Classic, representing nations from around the globe. There are 12 players from the Blue Jays entire organization who will be playing on various clubs. However, there's a select few who could be real difference makers once the competition gets going.

Blue Jays who could be difference makers at the World Baseball Classic

Alejandro Kirk — Team Mexico

Catcher Alejandro Kirk is coming off another strong season in Toronto, slashing .282/.348/.421 with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs in 130 games in 2025. As a key backstop for the Jays, he’ll bring both offensive production and defensive savvy to Mexico’s lineup, slotting in alongside established stars like Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda.

Ernie Clement — Team USA

Infield utilityman Ernie Clement will represent the United States after a breakout 2025 campaign. Clement hit .277 with 9 homers and 50 RBIs during the regular season and then exploded in the postseason with a .411 average and a .977 OPS, setting a record for hits in a single MLB postseason. On Team USA, he’ll be competing for playing time amid a stacked roster featuring elite talent. However, as Clement has shown during his Blue Jays tenure, he's able to rise to the occasion and could do so again at this year's tournament.

Andrés Giménez — Team Venezuela

Andrés Giménez will take the field for Venezuela. The slick-fielding infielder had a quieter statistical profile in 2025 but remains a dynamic defensive presence with pop in his bat. He’ll share the infield with Major League stars as Venezuela seeks to climb toward the top of the international standings. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — Dominican Republic

One of the Blue Jays’ biggest stars, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., will suit up for the Dominican Republic. In 2025, Vlad slashed .292/.381/.467 with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs, anchoring a potent Dominican lineup. Look for the five-time All-Star to be a central figure in the pursuit of a championship alongside other elite bats like Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Kazuma Okamoto — Team Japan

The newest addition to the Blue Jays roster, Kazuma Okamoto, will return to Team Japan as they go to defend their WBC title. Japan captured the trophy in dramatic fashion at the last Classic, and Okamoto’s presence will give fans a first look at what he brings to the Jays in 2026. 

Yariel Rodríguez — Cuba

Right-handed reliever Yariel Rodríguez will pitch for Cuba. After putting together a solid season out of the bullpen for Toronto in 2025, Rodríguez heads to the Classic to bolster Cuba’s relief corps as they aim to recapture their international form. This could also serve as a way for Rodriguez to showcase he should be in the majors, as the right-handed was taken off the 40-man roster earlier this offseason.