The World Baseball Classic has arrived. Here’s how to catch some Royals in action
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fourteen Royals absent for WBC; club monitors players across pool play games.
- Witt likely leads off for USA; Lugo to start for Puerto Rico; Estévez, Pérez rostered.
- WBC broadcasts span Fox, FS1, FS2 and Tubi; full schedule posted on MLB.com.
Spring training hits a little different for the Kansas City Royals this year.
The club is without 14 players — including such stars as Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez — due to World Baseball Classic commitments. The global tournament began on Wednesday and runs through March 17.
The Royals played an exhibition game against Cuba on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the departing WBC participants were in action with their respective home countries’ teams.
Witt joined Michael Wacha on Team USA. Perez returned to the WBC stage once again to represent Venezuela alongside Maikel Garcia and Luinder Avila.
Elsewhere, Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone are set to play for Italy. Carlos Estévez joined the Dominican Republic and Seth Lugo will represent Puerto Rico.
Other Royals in the WBC include Eric Cerantola (Canada), Omar Hernandez (Cuba), Eli Morgan (Israel), Oscar Rayo (Nicaragua) and Abraham Toro (Canada).
“I just want to make the name on the back proud that I’m wearing the name on the front,” Estévez said. “You know, it’s a dream come true. And hopefully things go well.”
With so many players in the WBC, the Royals will be keeping a close eye on all the different games in pool play.
Lugo will start for Puerto Rico against Colombia on Friday. This is his second time representing Puerto Rico in the WBC.
“The most important part for me is for my kids to experience this,” Lugo said. “The last time I did this tournament, I didn’t have kids. So I’m really excited for them, and (they) get to go to Puerto Rico and see baseball in a different light.”
Witt is likely to lead off for the United States. He will spearhead a dynamic lineup that includes fellow major-league superstars Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, among others.
Team USA is one of the favorites to win the 2026 WBC. And it’s possible Witt could face his Royals teammates at some point in the tournament. The first crossover matchup has the U.S. facing Italy on March 10.
“When you are out there, you’re trying to win,” Witt said in reference to his teammates. “That’s what my mantra is. They’re teammates now, and when that comes, we’re still teammates. But for me, I always want to win.”
The WBC will begin with pool play. Twenty teams are broken into four different groups. Each team will play the others in their group. Afterward, the top two teams — in each pool — will advance to the championship bracket.
Japan won the 2023 WBC championship. The Japan roster features such MLB stars such as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Fans looking to watch the WBC-playing Royals in action have a variety of options. Games will be spread across multiple platforms, including Fox Sports and Tubi.
On Friday, Venezuela will play host to the Netherlands in a Pool D matchup. It will be telecast at 11 a.m. Central Time on Tubi.
Lugo will lead Puerto Rico against Colombia later in the afternoon. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Central on FS1.
The Dominican Republic plays Nicaragua at 6 p.m. Central on Friday on FS2, while Team USA plays Brazil at 7 p.m. Central on FOX.
Venezuela will face the Netherlands at 11 a.m. Central on Friday. It will be a chance to see Perez and Garcia in action oat loanDepot Park. The game will be streamed on Tubi.
Italy will play their first games Saturday. The full schedule of WBC games can be found at MLB.com.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
