Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Team Venezuela captured its first-ever World Baseball Classic title after defeating Team USA, 3-2, in the championship game on Tuesday night.
Venezuela took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth, only for Bryce Harper to even the score with a two-run homer. While that gave the United States some momentum, Venezuela quickly reclaimed it with Eugenio Suárez’s game-winning RBI double in the top of the ninth.
Although the finale was played at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., the crowd was overwhelmingly supportive of Venezuela and erupted when Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony to end the game.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas watched from afar and celebrated Venezuela’s WBC win with his two children.
Miguel Rojas celebrated Venezuela’s WBC win with his family.
: Miggyslocker/IG pic.twitter.com/110OTiNCGR — Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) March 18, 2026
Brusdar Graterol, who is also from Venezuela, congratulated the team in an Instagram post:
Venezuela became the second Latin American country to win the WBC and the first since the Dominican Republic was crowned champions in 2013. It was also Venezuela’s first championship in any international sports competition since 1945.
Miguel Rojas wanted to play for Venezuela in 2026 WBC
Rojas, who is entering his final season with the Dodgers before retiring, hoped to play for Venezuela in the 2026 WBC, but he was unable to secure an insurance policy.
Rojas was denied coverage due to being on the verge of turning 37 years old. Any player 37 or older is not eligible for insurance for the WBC.
“Definitely disappointed,” Rojas said at the time of being denied. “I’m not happy with the way things are. I didn’t know that my chance to go represent my country for the first and only time, probably as a player, was going to get cut because of an insurance problem.
“Even though we know we have to be ready for the season, and we have to play and be ready for our contract. At the end of the day, we didn’t know all those stipulations were going to be in place the way they are right now.
“My only question is, why is it just with our countries? Venezuela, Puerto Rico, we’ve seen a couple of Dominican players. I don’t see that happening with the United States or happening with Japan.
“I’m not trying to attack anybody, or attack what’s going on, or see what’s happening behind the scenes. But at the end of the day, it feels like it’s just happening with the players who want to represent their country from Latin America. So there are a lot of things I would like to talk about with someone in control, with someone from MLB.
“It’s really hard to not have the opportunity to put my country on my chest and have the opportunity to represent them and help win a World Baseball Classic. Not having the opportunity to do it because I’m 37 years old—that’s not right. I don’t feel that’s right.
“If I can still play in the big leagues for the Dodgers, why not go play for my team in Venezuela and represent my country?”
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