Bo Bichette announces unexpected World Baseball Classic allegiance

Bo Bichette has announced which country he’ll play for in next year’s World Baseball Classic, and it’s going to be a family affair. 

Earlier this week, MLB.com’s Ayako Oikawa reported that Bichette had made his decision to play for Team Brazil in next year’s World Baseball Classic. 

Bichette’s mother is Brazilian, which is why Bichette’s eligible to play for the country. He was also eligible to play for the United States thanks to his dad, Dante.

Bo Bichette announces World Baseball Classic allegiance

Bo Bichette will join his brother Dante Jr., who helped Brazil qualify for this year’s tournament thanks to a strong showing in this year’s qualifiers. 

Both brothers played for Brazil in 2017 in the tournament’s qualifying round. 

"It means a lot to our whole family that my brothers and I are playing,” Bichette told Oikawa. “ We want to do our best to contribute to the team's victory and draw some attention to Brazilian baseball.

"I think the WBC is a great event for baseball. I think matches between countries are the best way to attract attention not only from baseball fans, but from general fans as well."

Bichette committing to play to Brazil is a huge boost for baseball in the country. The sport has been growing in Brazil and having a two-time MLB All-Star on the roster will help generate a bit more buzz ahead of the team’s WBC showing. 

There’s no guarantee that Bichette could be a Blue Jays by the time that World Baseball Classic rolls around since he’s an impending free agent, but his seven-year run with the Blue Jays has proved that he can be the kind of player that a country rallies itself around. 

Bichette's hitting .290 this year with 13 RBI through 29 games. He ranks in the 98th percentile in expected batting average and the 96th percentile in sweet-spot rate.

He likely won’t be the only Blue Jay to compete in the tournament. 

Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez will likely suit up for Team Venezuela and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Yimi García will play for the Dominican Republic while Alejandro Kirk (Mexico) and José Berríos (Puerto Rico) will also get a chance to show their stuff on what's quickly becoming baseball's biggest stage.

Bichette would have had an uphill battle to make Team USA, as he’s likely behind Bobby Witt Jr., Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Gunnar Henderson in the fight for shortstop. 

Brazil secured the last spot in the tournament by defeating Germany 6-4 in the qualifying round in Tucson, Arizona earlier this year.

Brazil’s lone appearance in the World Baseball Classic came in 2013 when the country went 0-3 with losses to Japan, Cuba and China. 

Team Brazil will take on the United States, Mexico, Italy and Britain in group play at Daikin Park in Houston. The tournament will begin on March 5, 2026.