Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez expressed his desire to represent the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts’ podcast.
Hernandez has been with the Dodgers since the beginning of the 2024 season, and played an important role in both of the Dodgers’ World Series runs over the last couple of years. Having won it all in MLB, Hernandez is shifting his focus towards international tournaments.
“Yeah, for sure. Representing your country is the best thing you can do as an athlete,” Hernandez said. “That’s the ultimate step. I won in the Winter League in the Dominican, I won in the minor leagues, I won in the World Series. So now I want to win in the WBC.”
The outfielder held a minor role in the 2023 WBC with the Dominican Republic, stepping up to the plate seven times across his team’s four games. The Dominican Republic underperformed to their standard in the tournament, going 2-for-2 before being eliminated in group play.
Hernandez will look to take on a bigger role in the upcoming tournament, as he had another solid season in Dodger blue in 2025. He batted .247 with a .738 OPS, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 89 RBIs. He also showed up in the postseason with some huge performances, notably hitting a game-winning, three-run homer against the Phillies in the opening game of the NLDS and driving in a run during the Dodgers’ comeback win in Game 7 of the World Series.
The Dominican Republic got a favorable draw for pool play in the upcoming WBC, sharing a group with Venezuela, the Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua. Hernandez and his team will look to win the tournament, which begins March 4, 2026, for the first time since 2013.
