Royals’ Maikel Garcia doubled down on WBC comment that upset Latin America fans
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Garcia emphasized national pride, saying Venezuela won, not Latin America.
- Fans across Latin America reacted strongly, criticizing tone and unity message.
- Garcia posted again after the title, doubling down and fueling further backlash.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia faced some of the best pitchers on the planet during the World Baseball Classic, but a softball question seems to have caused him trouble.
Following Venezuela’s 4-2 win over Italy in a World Baseball Classic semifinal game, Garcia and his cousin, Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr., were asked if they were going to be playing for everyone in Latin America. And what was their message to Puerto Ricans and Dominicans who would support them in the World Baseball Classic final against the United States?
Acuña said Team Venezuela was happy for the support “because we are all Latin America.”
That’s how you smash a softball question. Garcia didn’t agree with Acuña.
“I think people, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans want us to play for Latin America,” Garcia said. “But us baseball players are playing for our country and obviously we are lifting Latin America up and demonstrating in Latin America there is great baseball, and a lot of talent comes out of Latin America but ultimately we are playing for our country.”
Seems like a measured response, right? Venezuela supporters thought so. But some Latin America baseball fans were angry.
Video of Garcia’s answer, which was in Spanish and translated by my niece Citlali, had more than 1 million views and generated hundreds of responses. Here are some of the things that were said about Garcia.
“Maikel Garcia needs some media training,” a fan wrote on X. “A completely unnecessary comment, especially after being told that other Latin American countries are supporting your country. Even if you’re playing for your country, your grandma, or your dog, it felt like a rejection of the support. That’s it!”
Another wrote: “That’s the Dominican truth—so far, it’s the only Latin American team to have won the World Baseball Classic, and we support USA to win.”
“This is why it’s always been Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico only for me,” a third shared.
This was one particularly harsh take: “When you’re starving, don’t come looking for bread from other Latin American countries, raft of trashlife”
Another wrote: “One said: we are all brothers and thanks for the support. The other said: we will put Lat Am on high, but we play for Venezuela. Here a patriotic connotation and on the other side, a connotation of brotherhood.”
“Well,” a fan shared, “Acuña spoke and he’s the star, no one’s buying what the other guy says.”
And then there was this: “Damn, my God! And we’re the arrogant ones, the Dominicans. “
Garcia seemed to take it all in stride, because he wrote a simple message on X before the title game against Team USA: “Now I have to say that I play for Latin America 😂🤡”
After Venezuela beat the United States 3-2 and won the WBC championship on Tuesday night, Garcia doubled down on the comment.
“Venezuela won, not Latin America 😂😂😂,” Garcia wrote on X shortly after getting the MVP trophy.
That also didn’t sit well.
“These ballplayers are weird. They win and the first thing they post is throwing shade,” a fan wrote. “What a weirder thing, instead of enjoying it, talking with their families, with their teammates, but nah, let me go to X to talk this nonsense to stir up the networks.”
Another shared this: “I’m Venezuelan and obviously Venezuela won, but this victory also goes out to all of Latin America—we need to show more humility, Maikel; the Venezuelan is decent and a friend to all our brother countries that supported us in this final.”
And then there was this comment: “The way you speak isn’t a good representation of your country. I’m Dominican and my wife is Venezuelan. Humility first, my brother.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 8:27 AM.
