Team Dominican Republic Makes Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Decision at World Baseball Classic

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Mar 9, 2026 2:18 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays committed their future to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. last April when they signed him to the largest contract in franchise history, a 14‑year, $500 million deal designed to keep him with the club for the rest of his career.

Guerrero made that investment look brilliant in 2025, leading the Blue Jays to their first World Series appearance in more than three decades. The 26‑year‑old first baseman posted a .397 batting average, .494 on‑base percentage, 1.289 OPS, eight home runs and 15 RBIs across 18 postseason games.

Although the Blue Jays came up just short, the future remains bright with Guerrero at the center of the franchise. His track record already shows it with five All‑Star selections, two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove across seven seasons.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27)© Brad Penner-Imagn Images

As Guerrero prepares for 2026 with a revamped Blue Jays roster, he has been away from camp while participating in the World Baseball Classic, joining many of baseball's elite.

Guerrero is playing for Team Dominican Republic, one of the strongest rosters in the tournament and a legitimate contender for gold. Entering Monday’s matchup with Israel, the Dominican Republic had already dominated Nicaragua 12‑3 and the Netherlands 12‑1.

Guerrero has been electric so far, going three‑for‑eight with two home runs, one in each game, and six RBIs.

However, as the Dominican Republic looked to secure its third straight win to open pool play, one notable name was missing from the starting lineup. Guerrero was given the day off in favor of veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, a disappointing development for Blue Jays fans hoping to continue watching their franchise superstar rake on the global stage.

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There is likely a simple explanation for the decision. Israel is one of the weaker teams in the tournament, and this may be Santana’s final opportunity to play in the WBC, giving the staff reason to get him some meaningful at‑bats.

Guerrero’s next chance to return to the lineup will come Wednesday against Venezuela, one of the tournament’s top teams and a matchup expected to be far more competitive.

If Guerrero continues his early‑tournament surge, he could be one of the defining players of this year’s WBC. His goal remains capturing a championship for the Dominican Republic before returning to the Blue Jays with the same mission of delivering a long‑awaited World Series title to Toronto.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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