MIAMI, FL — Maikel García kept Team Venezuela alive when things looked bleak against Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic quarterfinal Saturday night at loanDepot Park.
García was up with a 5-2 deficit in the fifth and Yoshinobu Yamamoto had just gotten pulled after the fourth. The right-handed hitting third baseman already had a double on his ledger when he stepped up and hit a two-run home run against Chihiro Sumida.
The Venezuelan fans erupted Miami’s ballpark as soon as the ball left the bat.
Just like that, the pressure was tilted towards Japan and all of the momentum was with Venezuela.
“This is a great moment to show who Venezuela is,” García told Latino Sports. “We have a great time, and I’m enjoying every single time I’m with the boys.”
The four-year MLB veteran, born in La Sabana, Venezuela, won his first Gold Glove and made his first All-Star Game appearance with the Kansas Royals last season while manning the hot corner at third base.
“I never had the opportunity before to represent Venezuela in the past, so I’m doing it now in the best baseball in the world.” -Venezuela’s Maikel García
With García representing his homeland, this is the second time Venezuela has advanced to the semifinals in World Baseball Classic history with the first time being in 2009. Not only did they get a massive WBC win, but they also qualified for the 2028 Summer Olympics with the 8-5 victory.
Moreover, García is making major contributions to Venezuela in five games, recording one home run, five RBIs, a .421 batting average, and an OPS of 1.131 in 19 at-bats.
During this offseason, García stayed connected to Venezuela by playing in the LVBP with the Tiburones de La Guaira, which he played in this past season and the two previous winters.
For the 26-year-old, this is all a dream come true and at times, it is difficult for him to keep his heart rate slow.
“Just calm down, breathing,” he said of his mindset in high-intensed environments. “It’s going to be a game with a lot of anxiety, and I try to breathe calmly.”
Kansas City is hoping for a big bounceback season as a team with García playing a big part of that. In 2025, he put up 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a slash line of .286/.351/.439 in 595 at-bats, earning him the nod as a finalist for the American League LatinoMVP.
“In the place I come from, we are born with that characteristic, to be competitive every day no matter where you are playing or what you are playing,” stated García as Venezuela now gears up for Italy in the WBC semifinal round. “I love facing the best rivals. I want to show who I am and what Venezuela is. We have talented players. To let the world know that Venezuela is among the best in sports.”
Venezuela’s upcoming opponent, Italy, is no joke, sitting at 5-0 in this WBC. Though, not far behind is García and Venezuela, standing at 4-1.
Both sides will have a tall task of keeping their momentum going Monday night with the opportunity to advance to the World Baseball Classic Championship.
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