How Maikel Garcia’s heroics sent Venezuela to World Baseball Classic final
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Garcia’s seventh-inning RBI single gave Venezuela the late lead vs Italy.
- Garcia’s breakout Royals season and WBC showing raised his national profile.
- Venezuela advances to face the U.S. in the 2026 WBC title game on FOX.
Maikel Garcia wanted the moment.
In the seventh inning, Garcia stepped to the plate with two runners on base. A raucous crowd of 35,382 fans sat on a powder keg of emotions. Venezuelan fans — who made the long trip to loanDepot Park for the 2026 World Baseball Classic — wriggled with every pitch.
They knew what was at stake. Venezuela and Italy were tied 2-2. A trip to the WBC title game hung in the balance.
Venezuela had never been there. Yet there was Garcia — who was playing in his first WBC — standing on the precipice of history with a can of gasoline.
And he lit the fuse with one swing.
Garcia laced an RBI single off Italy pitcher Michael Lorenzen. He got a 93-mph sinker that he deposited into left field. Jackson Chourio raced home as Venezuela took a late lead and never relinquished it.
“After my cousin (Ronald Acuña Jr.) got on base, I said I want the moment,” Garcia said on the FS1 postgame show. I feel like I was born for those moments. I want the moment to show who Maikel Garcia is. You know, it’s just fighting every single pitch, and thank God I got a hit.”
Garcia was a breakout star with the Kansas City Royals last season. He produced career-highs with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. The accolades rolled in during the offseason. Garcia won a Gold Glove and was nominated for a Silver Slugger Award.
He also received American League MVP votes. It all culminated his All-Star campaign with a spot among the top-100 players in the sport.
Yet, Garcia knew his play meant more for Venezuela. He circled the WBC as a chance to showcase his skills on a national level.
Garcia performed well through six games. He entered Monday’s action hitting .421 with 1.134 OPS (on-base plus slugging). Those numbers skyrocketed after he led Venezuela to a semifinal victory over Italy.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Garcia said. “You know, I have never been a part of this, and to play the way I’m playing is amazing. We want to bring the championship to the country.”
Now, Garcia will lead Venezuela against the United States. The WBC title game will be held on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Central on FOX.
It will pit Garcia — alongside Salvador Perez and Luinder Avila — against Royals teammate Bobby Witt Jr. in the marquee game.
“Venezuela is like a baseball country,” Garcia said. “They don’t take it easy if we lost. We have to go out there and compete every single night. They are going to get mad if we lost. We have a great team and we want to bring the championship to the country.”
Garcia’s heroics will be remembered for a long time. And now, Venezuela has a chance to make history on the grandest stage with the world watching.
“You know, the big leagues are not like this,” Garcia said. “This is amazing. This is different and I think it’s going to help me to play better in the big leagues.”
