Even with insurance issues keeping many of baseball’s top players, such as former Twins shortstop Carlos Correa and Twins catcher Victor Caratini, from participating in the tournament, this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) will still be a fun one. Twins stars Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan will represent the star-studded Team USA, and there are several other fun Twins connections.
3 wild World Baseball Classic connections that will wow Twins fans
Twins legend Justin Morneau becomes coach for traded Minnesota infielder Edouard Jullien to Team Canada
Morneau represented his home country as a player in the 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics. Now, the Twins legend joins the team as hitting coach.
While Canada’s roster is not nearly as formidable as those of the United States, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Japan, the country has several players with major league experience, meaning a deep run for the country is not out of the question. The Canadian roster includes the Naylor brothers (Bo & Josh), Tyler O’Neill, Denzel Clarke, Owen Caissie, Michael Soroka and more. One name on the roster that will catch the attention of Twins fans is infielder Edouard Julien, who Minnesota traded to the Colorado Rockies late last month. Julien played a key role on the 2023 Twins team that defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Wild Card Series.
Former Twins starting pitcher Vance Worley will pitch for Great Britain
The “Vanimal” will represent Great Britain at this year’s WBC after doing so in 2023. Last WBC, Worley started for Great Britain against Team USA during pool play, giving up two runs (zero earned) while allowing three hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.
During the 2012–13 offseason, the Twins acquired Worley and righty pitcher Trevor May from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Ben Revere. Worley was a huge disappointment for the Twins, posting a dreadful 7.21 ERA in 48 2/3 innings across 10 starts before being demoted to Triple-A Rochester in May 2013. He spent the remainder of the 2013 season in Triple-A before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash on March 25, 2014.
Pablo López & Luis Arráez – who were swapped for each other in 2023 – will represent Venezuela
They did the same thing at the 2023 WBC, but it’s still interesting for Twins fans to see. During the 2022-2023 offseason, the Twins traded Arráez to the Miami Marlins for López and prospects José Salas and Byron Chourio. Arráez, who recently signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, had a stellar 2023 season for Miami (4.6 bWAR) but has regressed significantly since then (2.2 bWAR combined in 2024 and 2025 with the Marlins and San Diego Padres). As for López, who signed a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension with Minnesota during the 2023 season, the right back has posted an 8.0 bWAR ERA and a 3.68 ERA in 78 starts for the Twins over the past three seasons.
López is the clear trump card for Venezuelaand Arráez will likely play first base and designated hitter for his home country during the tournament.
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