Mar 10, 2026
3 min read
The WBC's eligibility requirements encourage players to use their heritage to obtain the best possible rosters for the event.
The Athletic has live coverage of USA vs. Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Vinny Pasquantino remembers his roots.He has the man to make sure of that.
"My grandfather never stopped asking me questions about Italy," Pasquantino said.
Pasquantino's grandfather Denny takes care of his grandson's job as a first baseman for the Kansas City Royals.But he's more invested in playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy.
Pasquantino's grandfather was watching the Azzurri.He pestered his grandson with questions about when the tournament would start.(Vinnie told the grandson it was spring training, to which his older brother said, "I don't care.")
Grandma also asked where they were playing."He thinks we're in Italy," said Pasquantino, not Houston.
It's a bonding moment.For so many playing in this WBC, the tournament is an opportunity to represent where they grew up.For players like Pasquantino, who was born in the United States (Richmond, Virginia) and plays in another country, it's an opportunity to take advantage of their family history.
"As selfish as it sounds, it's kind of an opportunity to play off your back," Pascantino said."I don't mean for you, I mean play for your family, for your legacy and just be proud of it."
Pasquntino is not alone.Team Italy's ace, Aaron Nola, was born in Baton Rouge, La. Before Roman Anthony joined Team USA as Corbin Carroll's replacement, Pasquantino tried to recruit him to join them.
The Italian premier league team has 21 players who were born in the United States, the most of any team outside of Team USA.But the WBC has dozens of examples.Scottsdale, Arizona native Austin Wells turned some heads when it was revealed he would be representing the Dominican Republic in the tournament.(His mother, Michelle, is Dominican.) Born in Miami.Manny Machado represented Team USA at the U18 Pan Am Games, but chose to represent the Dominican Republic in 2017, 2023 and honor his late grandfather at the tournament.This time he is the captain of the team.From Stuart Fairchild in Chinese Taipei to Jahmai Jones in Korea, most of the teams on the field have time in the top division.It boasts at least one American-born player.
Nolan Arenado (Newport Beach, Calif.), who represented the United States when they won the tournament in 2017, is now honoring his mother by playing for Puerto Rico, a team he joined after being encouraged by Kiké Hernández.
For Rowdy Tellez, his connection to the World Baseball Classic has never been a point of contention.His grandfather, Greg, was a Mexican baseball legend, and several other family members in Mexico also found success in the sport.
Telez (Sacramento) said, "We can put our name on the back of the jersey and represent Mexico. We don't care about that. That's why I think it's so special. For me, born in the US, I've always said I'm Mexican. I've always loved being Mexican. People think I'm American. "I always say, I represent Mexico."
For Taijuan Walker (Shreveport, La.), representing Mexico means bonding with grandparents the former veteran never had the chance to fully know.
“For me, it goes back to my grandmother,” Walker said."She passed away when I was younger ... (and) she never had a chance to see me play baseball. I never had a chance to learn that side of my family from her. So for me to represent her and her memory and honor is special."
When he told his mother about the possibility of participating in Mexico for the first time in 2023, "(she) cried, my aunts and uncles, everyone cried."
Players choosing to represent their surname by place of birth is a common WBC practice.Since its inception in 2006, every tournament has featured multiple teams with American players.
Eligibility requirements allow and encourage getting the best possible rosters for the event.To be eligible, a player must be a citizen of a country, be a permanent legal resident, be born in the country, have at least one parent, or have sufficient documentation to grant them citizenship or a passport in that country.
The door is open to players who want to join.Logan Allen's (West Palm Beach, Fla.) parents met his father in Panama.His mother, Caron, and the ability to represent her country provided a valuable opportunity.Detroit Tigers minor-leaguer Austin Bergner (Boca Raton, Fla.) wasn't sure his Colombian mother would be eligible to play before teammate Rio Gomez (Miami, Fla.) gave him the confidence.
"It's been fun," Bergner said."I don't really understand everything that's going on, but I like to pretend I do."
Bergner's experience with the language barrier is hardly unusual across the WBC.Team Mexico has 13 US-born players with MLB experience, and Benji Gill's staff will be tweeting instructions in both Spanish and English to ensure everyone is on the same page.
"Everybody messes with everybody," Tellez said."Like some guys, my Spanish isn't as good as others. Some guys' English isn't good, but we just confuse each other and they help each other. There's never a hard time."
Pasquantino wanted to double-check his eligibility as Italy bid for the 2023 WBC.That means digging into his family history and his visit to Italy.
"Drink a lot of wine," says Pascantino."Do what the Italians do."
The Mission uncovered another.Currently, Pasquntino's major league career holds the highest position in Google searches for the last name.It replaces Pasquntino v.
As one Italian-American icon put it: "He's a model and it's an insult."But in the case of Pasquantino...
"We've had some trouble with the law," Pasquantino said, "as any good Italian does. So that's where we are."
- Sahadev Sharma, Zack Meisel and Chad Jennings of The Athletic contribute to this report
