Reds star pitchers declined to play in the World Baseball Classic

Photo: Redleg Nation Staff

The Cincinnati Reds will have six players from their organization playing in the World Baseball Classic next month. It’s among the lowest totals in all of Major League Baseball. Among players on the 40-man roster the club will only have two players in the WBC – infielders Eugenio Suarez and shortstop Edwin Arroyo. The latter of those two has never played above Double-A.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that multiple Reds players declined the opportunity to play. We learned last month that Elly De La Cruz wanted to play but ultimately was not given the permission by the team. Three pitchers, according to Wittenmyer, declined to play for their country. Starting pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo were both offered and turned down the chance. Both noted that they wanted to focus on the 2026 Reds. Reliever Emilio Pagan was also asked to play and he also opted to pass this time around after playing with Puerto Rico in both 2017 and 2023.

The World Baseball Classic starts at the end of the first week of March, with the first game of the tournament scheduled for March 6th. Most countries open up on the 7th.

Eugenio Suarez will be playing for team Venezuela in Pool D. It is not his first time representing the country in the WBC. Edwin Arroyo will be playing with team Puerto Rico in Pool A. Utilityman Ivan Johnson, who has spent the last two seasons with Triple-A Louisville will be playing for team Great Britain in Pool B. Shortstop Alexander Vargas will be on Team Cuba and in Pool A. Pitcher David Lorduy will be on Team Colombia in Pool A. The youngest player the Reds are sending out is pitcher Ryjeteri Merite. He will be with team Netherlands and will be playing in Pool D.

Pitcher Irvin Machuca, who spent much of his 2025 season with the High-A Dayton Dragons is on team Mexico’s “Designated Pitcher Pool” roster, which would make him eligible to join the team as an injury replacement, or just a general replacement player after each round of the tournament.