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The prominent Cuban baseball player Lourdes Gurriel Jr., currently an outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball, could represent Panama in the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic, as revealed by journalist Ronny Ramos Jr., a commentator for COS, through his account on social media platform X.
"Me acabo de enterar que durante el proceso de firma de Lourdes Gurriel Jr. en 2016, este obtuvo la nacionalidad panameña, lo que lo hace elegible para representar a Panamá en el próximo Clásico Mundial. Me informan que existe el interés y que ya están en conversaciones", escribió Ramos.
A connection that dates back to 2016
Indeed, Gurriel Jr. -brother of the also star Yulieski Gurriel- was observed by scouts from all 30 MLB teams during a showcase at the Rod Carew Stadium in Panama in 2016. At that time, at 22 years old, he still had to wait to turn 23 in order to sign as an unrestricted international free agent.
Finally, on November 12 of that same year, he signed a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and made his Major League debut on April 20, 2018.
According to the latest revelations, in that process, Gurriel Jr. would have acquired Panamanian nationality, which would allow him to represent the Central American country in international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic.
A solid bat to reinforce Panama
In the current 2025 MLB season, the 31-year-old from Sancti Spíritus is batting .251 on average, with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, and an OPS of .723, figures that keep him as a reliable hitter with occasional power.
Although the possibility is still under discussion, it would be a high-impact signing for Panama, which already knows the dates and times of its matches in the tournament. Furthermore, the option arises in a context where Gurriel Jr. could not represent Cuba, as he was declared a defector by the regime after leaving -along with his brother Yulieski- an official delegation in 2016, following the conclusion of the Caribbean Series in the Dominican Republic.
If their presence with Panama is confirmed, it would be another emblematic case in which an elite Cuban athlete represents another country, due to the restrictions imposed by the communist government of Havana, which prevents the calling up of athletes who have left official delegations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and His Participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic
Why could Lourdes Gurriel Jr. play with Panama in the 2026 World Classic?
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could play for Panama because he obtained Panamanian nationality during the signing process with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, making him eligible to represent that country in international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic.
What are Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s current statistics in the 2025 MLB season?
In the 2025 MLB season, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has a batting average of .251, with 12 home runs, 47 runs batted in, 7 stolen bases, and an OPS of .723. These numbers keep him as a reliable hitter with occasional power in the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Why can't Lourdes Gurriel Jr. represent Cuba in the World Baseball Classic?
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. cannot represent Cuba because he was declared a defector by the Cuban regime after leaving an official delegation in 2016, which prevents him from being called up to the Cuban national team.
What impact would the inclusion of Gurriel Jr. have on the Panama team?
The incorporation of Gurriel Jr. into the Panama team would be a high-impact signing, as he could significantly strengthen the team's offense with his solid batting and experience in the Major Leagues. This would increase Panama's chances in the tournament.
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