CABO ROJO, PUERTO RICO — During the 2025 season, I had the chance to speak with Seth Lugo about the possibility of once again suiting up for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. At the time, he wasn’t completely sure what his decision would be, but we reflected on his first experience pitching for Team Rubio and what it meant to represent the island.
“Once the WBC comes together, it’s like one big happy tournament, everyone really enjoying it,” Lugo told Latino Sports. “It’s important (to the game) and a lot of fun.”
Fast forward to Tuesday, and the news was made official: Seth Lugo is back. His return is a major lift for a Puerto Rican squad that has been hit hard by insurance-related restrictions keeping several star players off the roster. Lugo’s presence brings not only experience, but the kind of steady, professional arm that can anchor a tournament rotation.
The right-hander will rejoin Team Puerto Rico after missing the last edition of the Classic in 2023. This time, after days of uncertainty in the approval process involving Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Classic organizing committee, Puerto Rico has finally secured one of its key starting pitchers.
Lugo, winning the LatinoMVP on two separate occasions—in 2019 as NL LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year and in 2024 as AL LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year, previously missed the tournament while navigating free agency. Shortly after that Classic, he signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he has since established himself as a dependable piece of their pitching staff. He is coming off a season in which he posted an 8–7 record with a 4.15 ERA and 125 strikeouts, reaffirming his value as a reliable Major League frontline starter.
Seth Lugo was presented his 2024 American League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year Award at Kauffman Stadium this past September during Hispanic Heritage Month – Image Credit: Kansas City Royals/MLB
Last year, he also signed a contract extension with Kansas City that includes a performance-based option for the 2028 season and a guaranteed value of $46 million.
According to Puerto Rico’s daily newspaper El Vocero, Lugo now joins a growing list of pitchers recently cleared to represent the island, headlined by Edwin “Sugar” Díaz (two-time LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year), Fernando Cruz, Yacksel Ríos, Jovani Morán, and Luis Quiñones. Their approvals provide much-needed reinforcement to a pitching staff that had faced multiple setbacks in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, Edwin Díaz was cleared to play for Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Meanwhile, the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation (FBPR) received an extension on the deadline to submit its final roster—originally set for 10:00 a.m. Puerto Rico time—as officials continue working through medical and insurance evaluations for several players.
Sources close to the situation indicate the federation may choose to leave three roster spots open to be filled at a later date.
The official rosters for each team participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic will be announced this coming Thursday, February 5th – Image Credit: World Baseball Classic
Still hanging in the balance are the potential participations of Francisco Lindor (two-time LatinoMVP Award winner), José Berríos (2019 AL LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year), Javier Báez (two-time LatinoMVP Award winner), and Carlos Correa, as the federation pushes to secure the strongest roster possible.
But with Lugo now officially in the fold, Puerto Rico has regained an important piece—and a renewed sense of momentum—heading toward the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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