Spanish
Santo Domingo.– The general manager of the Dominican team, Nelson Cruz, responded to the main concerns of fans and journalists after the official announcement of the Dominican Republic roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, offering details on the selection process, substitutions, insurance, and leadership.
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Cruz explained that the inclusion of a player in the roster follows an established protocol, which begins with the confirmation of the player's interest and notification to the "Association of Players", the body in charge of validating the participation before the management contacts the athlete directly. Regarding possible substitutions, he indicated that the team has priority lists prepared by the scouting department, which allows for a quick reaction in case of absences due to injury, insurance, or other eventualities. The manager also highlighted the large working group behind the formation of the roster, which includes the scouting staff, advisors, and historical figures of Dominican baseball such as Juan Marichal, Pedro Martínez, David Ortiz, Adrián Beltré, and Vladimir Guerrero, among others. One of the most sensitive topics addressed was that of insurance, which Cruz described as one of the main obstacles to the participation of veteran players. He explained that the current restrictions have limited the availability of several players, especially those over 37 years old. Regarding the team's leadership, he confirmed that Manny Machado is the main candidate for captain, although the final decision is still under evaluation. Finally, Cruz sent a direct message to the Dominican fanbase, thanking them for their support and assuring them that every decision has been made with professionalism and love for the national flag. "We have worked to make the Dominican people proud of what we have on the field. We hope that all that talent will turn into victories," said the general manager.
