Astros Bench Coach Omar López Leads Venezuela to First World Baseball Classic Title
In the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s World Baseball Classic final, with the score tied and a nation holding its breath, Astros bench coach Omar López made the call. He sent pinch-runner Javier Sanoja for Luis Arraez, watched him steal second on a…
Jose Altuve in the Stands as Venezuela Reaches WBC Final: How to Watch vs. USA Tonight
José Altuve was in the building Monday night. He just wasn’t on the field. The Houston Astros second baseman sat in the stands at loanDepot Park in Miami, watching Team Venezuela punch its ticket to the World Baseball Classic final with a win over…
Astros Prospect Zach Dezenzo Helping Power Italy’s WBC Semifinal Run
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — When the Houston Astros open their 2026 season on March 26, Zach Dezenzo may well be watching from Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros’ infield remains crowded, roster spots are limited, and his path to everyday at-bats in Houston is…
Astros’ Shay Whitcomb Launches Two Homers for South Korea in WBC Debut
TOKYO — Shay Whitcomb had his mother in the stands at Tokyo Dome on Thursday. He made sure she left with a memory. The Houston Astros infielder hit two home runs to help South Korea defeat Czechia 11-4 in their 2026 World Baseball Classic opener,…
Former Astros Manager Dusty Baker Back in the Dugout With Team Nicaragua
Dusty Baker is managing again, and true to form, he’s doing it his way. The 76-year-old, who led the Houston Astros to their second World Series championship in 2022, has come out of retirement to manage Nicaragua in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.…
Astros’ Zach Dezenzo Is Turning Heads at the WBC — in Spanish
Zach Dezenzo is juggling a few different roles at once this week: representing his ancestral homeland, speaking Spanish with reporters, and quietly making his case for a spot on the Houston Astros’ roster. The 25-year-old Astros infielder, a Canton, OH,…
Jeremy Peña Officially Out of World Baseball Classic, Opening Day Status Uncertain
Jeremy Peña will not play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic—and his status for Opening Day remains unclear. The Houston Astros shortstop, who fractured the tip of his right ring finger Wednesday during a Dominican Republic exhibition game, rejoined the…
Astros’ Jeremy Peña Suffers Finger Fracture, Will Miss First Round of World Baseball Classic
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña suffered a fractured finger Wednesday during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game in Santo Domingo and will miss at least the tournament’s first round. Peña, playing for the Dominican Republic in a World…
Dezenzo Gets Ultimate Audition as Astros Navigate WBC Departures
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As World Baseball Classic pool play approaches, the Houston Astros find themselves in a rare situation: one of their roster hopefuls will soon be playing against them in their own ballpark. Utility infielder Zach Dezenzo will…
World Baseball Classic Returns to Houston as Astros Players Depart for International Play
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —The World Baseball Classic returns next week, and Houston will be at the center of it. The 20-team tournament runs March 6–17 and is divided into four pools across multiple host cities. Houston will host Group B at Daikin Park from…