The roster taking shape for Mexico ahead of theWorld Baseball Classic continues to take hits that leave it weakened-though it also creates opportunities for other players to compete for spots.
The main reasons for the absences stem from insurance issues, as happens with other countries, plus some players opting to focus on Spring Training to secure positions with their MLB teams.
Another brutal blow for Mexico
The latest case is Taj Bradley, who prefers to concentrate with the Minnesota Twins to fight for a spot in the starting rotation, leading to his refusal to participate in the World Baseball Classic.
The Twins‘ starter will battle for a role after it was announced that Venezuelan pitcher Pablo López is undergoing Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the 2026 campaign.
Taj Bradley‘s withdrawal is just another significant loss for manager Benjamín Gil‘s team. The list now includes fellow starter José Urquidy and infielder Ramón Urías, who recently signed contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.
Now, Taijuan Walker and Javier Assad could become the No. 1 and No. 2 options in the rotation for the team aiming to compete in this international tournament.
Mexico will begin its World Baseball Classic participation on Friday, March 6, against Great Britain-playing as the visitor.
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