The World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, with roster details for many teams now available.
Of the participating players, five currently in the White Sox organization are set to compete. Below is a running tracker of both current and former players who have either confirmed their participation or have been officially named to their respective national teams for the 2026 WBC.
Seranthony Dominguez (RHP), Dominican Republic
Seranthony Dominguez confirmed his involvement in the WBC on Instagram.
The right-handed reliever just signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the White Sox, which is the same amount the Mets paid for Luis Robert Jr.’s contract, allowing Chris Getz and Co. to reinvest.
Dominguez, 31, is best known for his time with the Phillies, where he emerged as a key bullpen arm during the club’s postseason runs. Signed out of the DR, he debuted in 2018 and quickly made his presence felt during his rookie season, posting a 2.95 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 16 saves over 58 innings. For his career, he has thrown 206 innings, striking out 27.9% of batters and walking 10.5%.
After spending parts of two seasons with the Orioles, Dominguez joined the Blue Jays at this year’s trade deadline and played a key role in their bullpen throughout their playoff run. His control issues did lead to mixed results, though he still posted a 3.18 ERA over 12 postseason appearances. Taking a step back and looking at 2025 as a whole, Dominiguez finished with a 3.16 ERA over 62.2 innings, posting a 30.3% strikeout rate and the highest walk rate of his career at 13.8%.
This will mark Dominguez’s first appearance in the event.
Munetaka Murakami (1B), Japan
Samurai Japan named eight Major League players to its roster on Monday, including Munetaki Murakami. The White Sox’s top offseason acquisition will be joined by Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays), Yusei Kikuchi (Angels), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), Yuki Matsui (Padres), and Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles / FA). One roster spot reportedly remains under consideration and will be announced once finalized.
The White Sox shocked much of the baseball world in December when they beat out the likes of the Mets, Blue Jays, and Padres to sign Murakami to a two-year, $34-million contract. The Japanese slugger is set to make his Major League debut this spring after spending eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League.
This upcoming WBC appearance will not be Murakami’s first experience playing stateside. He represented Japan in 2023, delivering a walk-off, two-run double in the semifinal against Mexico and a pivotal game-tying home run in the final against the United States, helping Japan ultimately capture the WBC Championship.
Kyle Teel (C), Italy
Kyle Teel confirmed his involvement in this year’s WBC during an interview over the weekend. The White Sox catcher told Danielle McCartan of WFAN that he will suit up for Team Italy, marking his first appearance in the tournament.
“We’re going there to compete and win,” Teel said about his expectations. “It’s going to be a great opportunity to play other great countries, and anytime you could represent your culture, your country, I think it’s pretty cool.”
Teel’s potential participation first surfaced a few weeks ago, when manager Will Venable hinted at the possibility during a press conference. While no final decision had been made at the time, his involvement now appears all but official.
The White Sox backstop emerged as one of the organization’s most promising young players following a strong rookie campaign in 2025. Debuting in early June, Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, and a 125 wRC+ across 78 games.
Sam Antonacci (INF), Italy
Joining Teel on Team Italy is infield prospect Sam Antonacci.
The news was first reported by Matt Pepin on X and later confirmed by the White Sox in an official release.
In his first full professional season, Antonacci has completely shifted talent evaluators’ perception of him. A fifth-round pick in 2024, he began this past year at the High-A level, where he proved he was more advanced than the competition, hitting to a 153 wRC+. He earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham and retained very similar numbers there as well.
While he might not be the most athletic player on the team, his instincts allow him to get great jumps and be an effective base stealer. Defensively, he has spent plenty of time all over the infield dating back to his college days, but profiles best as a second baseman with just average arm strength.
At the plate, he is almost exclusively contact-oriented, likely struggling to hit double-digit home runs even at his ceiling. His plus bat-to-ball skills combined with his plate discipline and high baseball IQ should allow him to be an on-base machine with both a high batting average and walk rate. He should provide fans a good glimpse of his potential in early March.
Curtis Mead (3B), Australia
Curtis Mead shared on Instagram that he will be suiting up for the Aussies in March.
The corner infielder, who joined the White Sox in the Adrian Houser trade at last year’s deadline, has been linked to Team Australia since December. Although he has not previously appeared in the World Baseball Classic, Mead is eager for the opportunity.
“Curtis is super excited,” Team Australia’s manager Dave Nilsson said. “He wanted to play last time. He actually had tickets booked for his family last time. And the medical staff of the Rays had some concerns, so that kind of held him back. So Curtis couldn’t be more excited to be involved in this.”
A native of Adelaide, Mead slashed .240/.280/.304 with eight doubles and 11 RBI over 41 games for the South Siders last season.
Alexei Ramirez (SS), Cuba
The “Cuban Missile” appears poised to return to the diamond to represent his home country.
Francys Romero reported in December that Alexei Ramírez was included on Team Cuba’s preliminary roster for the World Baseball Classic. As of last week, Ramírez was still included as the team has begun its preparations, signaling an unexpected comeback.
Now 44, Ramírez spent eight of his nine Major League seasons on the South Side. During that span, he slashed .273/.310/.399, won two Silver Slugger Awards at shortstop, and finished second to Evan Longoria in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2008. He also still holds the MLB record for most grand slams in a rookie season, with four.
As Romero noted in his initial report, Ramírez appeared in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 at age 24. Now that he’s made Cuba’s final roster, he will be celebrating the tournament’s 20th anniversary in unprecedented fashion, making the team’s games a must-watch for White Sox fans.
Yoan Moncada (3B), Cuba
Team Cuba’s left side of the infield has a chance to be really interesting if Yoan Moncada can stay healthy. The former White Sox third baseman received insurance approval and was named to the roster for a second time.
The 30-year-old is coming off a 2025 season in which he appeared in just 84 games due to right thumb and knee injuries. When healthy, he slashed .234/.336/.448 with the Angels, hitting 12 home runs while posting a 117 wRC+ and 0.7 fWAR. However, that above-average offensive production did not carry over defensively, as his -13 Outs Above Average ranked last among all third basemen with at least 300 defensive innings.
Over eight seasons at 35th and Shields, Moncada slashed .254/.332/.425 with a 107 wRC+ and 14.0 fWAR. His best stretch came in 2019, when he hit .315/.367/.548 with 25 home runs, a 139 wRC+, and 5.2 fWAR across 132 games. That breakout earned him a five-year, $70 million extension, though he was never able to replicate that level of production again.
Josimar Cousin (RHP), Cuba
Though he never appeared in Major League action, Josimar Cousin spent two seasons in the White Sox organization. The right-hander owned a 4.48 career ERA over 45 games, making it as high as Triple-A Charlotte before electing free agency after the 2024 campaign.
Matt Davidson (1B), Canada
Former White Sox slugger Matt Davidson will be joining Team Canada, according to recent reports. Although he was born in California, both of Davidson’s parents are from Ontario and hold dual citizenship, making him eligible to represent our friends up north.
During his three years on the South Side, Davidson slashed .225/.291/.435 with 46 home runs and 131 RBI. His most memorable stretch came in 2018, when he launched seven home runs over four games at Kauffman Stadium.
Davidson has spent the past two seasons in the KBO, where he has emerged as a consistent power threat, crushing 82 home runs and 216 RBI.
He will now be working with Team Canada’s hitting coach, Justin Morneau, who also earns a quick nod here. The long-time Twin closed out his final Major League season in Chicago, playing 58 games for the South Siders in what was an odd sight for AL Central fans.
Michael Soroka (RHP), Canada
Michael Soroka joins Davidson for the red and white.
Soroka, 28, was acquired by the White Sox as part of the offseason trade that sent Aaron Bummer to the Braves. During the 2024 campaign, Soroka posted a 4.74 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 79.2 innings pitched across 25 games. He opened the season in Chicago’s rotation and struggled across his nine starts before moving to the bullpen in mid-May. As a reliever, Soroka flourished with a .189 opponents’ batting average, 15 K/9, and a 2.75 ERA in 16 relief appearances.
In more recent years, Soroka pitched for the Nationals before a deadline deal returned him to Chicago’s North Side. He’s now a member of the Diamondbacks after signing a one-year, $7.5 million deal in December.
Jose Quintana (LHP), Colombia
Left-hander Jose Quintana will be suiting up for his home country of Colombia.
Quintana, 37, was a top-of-the-line starter for several years on the South Side, often flying under the radar without the recognition he deserved. The Southpaw had the third-highest WAR at 18.1 among AL pitchers dating back to 2013 at the time of the infamous Crosstown trade. The blockbuster brought highly touted prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease over to the team in a move everyone remembers all too well.
The free agent will look to help solidify Team Colombia’s pitching staff as he awaits his next Major League opportunity.
Trayce Thompson (OF), Great Britain
Trayce Thompson always seems to resurface when you least expect it.
The outfielder was originally drafted in the second round by the White Sox in 2009 and has gone on to play three non-consecutive seasons for the team over his seven-year Major League career. Following his latest stint in 2023, Thompson’s Chicago slash line sits at .197/.264/.338 with nine home runs and 28 RBI.
His walk-off home run against the Twins will always be a fond memory, thanks in part to Yolmer Sanchez, who doused himself in a Gatorade bath to celebrate.
Thyago Vieira (RHP), Brazil
Only the real ones who stuck around for the first rebuild remember this name.
The White Sox acquired the flame-throwing right-hander from the Mariners during the 2017 offseason, making him the team’s No. 20 prospect entering 2018. Vieira went on to spend the next two years in the organization, but ran into recurring issues with his consistency and command over 22 MLB games. He finished his White Sox tenure with a 7.66 ERA across 24.2 innings pitched, striking out 23 while walking 14.
Vieira will be working closely with former White Sox pitcher André Rienzo, who will be serving as Brazil’s pitching coach.
Joseph Contreras (RHP), Brazil
Jose Contreras‘ son, Joseph, also gets a mention. The 17-year-old Vanderbilt commit has joined Team Brazil’s roster.
Known as an outstanding student, Joseph brings plenty to the mound. The class of 2026 member stands at 6-foot-4 just like his father, and already possesses a mid-90s fastball that has topped out in the upper 90s. Given his high ceiling and significant development this year alone, Perfect Game USA gives him a 10 out of 10 rating on their scale, meaning they view him as a “Potential very high draft pick and/or elite level college prospect.”
It should be fun to watch Contreras in the earlygoing if he finds himself on the mound.
Brad Keller (RHP), United States
He appeared in just five games for the White Sox, but Brad Keller earns a brief mention here.
The longtime division foe and current Phillies pitcher has been confirmed on Team USA’s roster. While he posted a 4.86 ERA during his short stint on the South Side in 2024, Keller rebounded with a breakout season for the Cubs in 2025 and now looks to bolster the United States’ pitching staff.
Fun Facts
- Four of the five White Sox players will be making their WBC debut.
- Murakami will appear in his second for Team Japan.
- The White Sox have sent at least five players to the WBC in four of the five tournaments
- They had a club-high eight representatives in both 2017 and 2023.
- Since the inaugural WBC in 2006…
- 6 members of the Sox organization have played for the United States
- 6 for Puerto Rico
- 3 for the Dominican Republic, Panama and Venezuela
- 2 for Cuba and Israel
- 1 for Brazil, Canada, Columbia and Mexico.
- The Sox add representatives for Australia, Italy and Japan in this year’s tournament.
Please note that rosters remain subject to change due to injuries or availability leading up to the tournament.
The first round of the WBC will be held March 5-11, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals, scheduled for March 13-14 at Daikin Park in Houston and loanDepot Park in Miami. The semifinals will be played March 15-16 in Miami, followed by the championship game on March 17.
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Featured Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
