Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas announced he will not play for Team Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to issues with insurance, via his Instagram story.
“I am very sad today,” Rojas wrote in a caption translate from Spanish to English. “It’s a real shame not to be able to represent my country and wear that flag on my chest.
“On this occasion, age was not just a number.”
Rojas’ injury history and age led to his insurance being rejected.
The shortstop also missed the 2023 WBC, withdrawing just before the tournament to remain with the Dodgers’ camp in Arizona after Gavin Lux tore his ACL. He has never made an appearance in a WBC.
The shortstop isn’t the first player to announce their abstinence from the WBC for Venezuela either, as Jose Altuve’s insurance also got rejected earlier this week.
What Will Team Venezuela Do Without Miguel Rojas?
Without Rojas in the lineup, Team Venezuela will be missing a solid utility infielder with a league-average bat and a phenomenal glove. Over the past two seasons, Rojas has managed a .732 OPS through 217 games and has accrued 5.5 bWAR across those appearances.
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He doesn’t hit for power often, but still managed a slugging percentage over .404 over the last two seasons.
As far as his glove goes, Rojas has ranked in the top 20 percent of fielders in each of the last two seasons. In 2025, his plus-9 defensive run value placed him in the top 10 percent of MLB and his 12 outs above average ranked in the top three percent.
Who Will Play For Team Venezuela at the WBC?
Even with Rojas and Altuve out, Venezuela has a strong pool of players to choose from heading in to the 2026 WBC.
Salvador Perez will serve as the team’s captain and will be in attendance, and former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. also join the team. Venezuela also named promising youngsters Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu to their roster Thursday.
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While Rojas will miss the WBC, it will give him more time with the Dodgers’ camp during spring training, which will certainly help the team jell during spring training. The Dodgers will hope Rojas can get into the swing of things early and produce another solid season in blue in 2026.
