Brewers' starting pitcher returns to Team Nicaragua for second-career WBC

66 days remain until the Milwaukee Brewers face off against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on Opening Day. However, Brewers fans, and all baseball fans for that matter, won't have to wait that long to watch their players play "meaningful" games. That's because 2026 is a World Baseball Classic (WBC) year.

For those unfamiliar with the WBC, the now-20-year-old tradition is an international baseball tournament during which players represent their home countries. The tournament begins with a pool play stage which is followed by knockout rounds much like the World Cup in soccer. The WBC is scheduled to take place every four years, but after the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the 2021 tournament to 2023, just three years have passed since the last iteration. Pool play begins on the night of March 4, and the WBC final is scheduled for March 17. Though the pool play portion of the tournament will take place in Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami, the knockout rounds will be played solely in the United States with the semifinals and finals being held at loanDepot Park -- the home of the Miami Marlins.

Already, several Brewers have committed to play in the event. Brice Turang is currently the Brewers' lone representative on Team USA, Freddy Peralta has committed to play for the Dominican Republic, and Tyler Black will suit up for Team Canada. Though not yet confirmed, it's fair to assume Sal Frelick will once again join Team Italy this spring. William Contreras and Jackson Chourio could both join Team Venezuela, though neither has officially committed just yet.

Just moments ago, another Brewer officially joined the list of players headed to the 2026 WBC. As initially reported by Nicaraguan sports journalist Fernando Rayo and relayed to Brewers fans by the Biloxi Shuckers' award-winning broadcaster Javik Blake, starting pitcher Carlos Rodríguez will represent Team Nicaragua this year, just as he did back in 2023.

Carlos Rodríguez set to join Team Nicaragua for a second-straight World Baseball Classic

The 24-year-old Rodríguez is still waiting for his MLB breakout. He's made appearances for the Brewers in each of the last two seasons, but hasn't earned a true opportunity to prove himself on the crowded Brewers pitching staff; he's compiled a total of just 22 innings pitched across the two campaigns. His lack of opportunities is in part due to the lackluster performance that he's displayed when he has toed the rubber on a big-league mound, with a career major-league ERA of 6.95 to prove it, but his impressive numbers in the minor leagues suggest that it's only a matter of time before Rodríguez is an MLB regular.

Not only was Rodríguez named the Brewers' minor league pitcher of the year in both 2022 and 2023, but he posted a solid 3.82 ERA in 15 Triple-A starts last year, despite enduring a scary forearm injury (generally a precursor to elbow issues) during the middle of the season. This winter, Rodríguez is back to his effective self, posting a 3.18 ERA in four starts for the Toros del Este in the Dominican Winter League.

Pitching for Team Nicaragua gives Rodríguez a chance to prove himself against some of the best players in the world while he's in the midst of fighting for a spot on the Brewers' 2026 roster. Back in 2023, Rodríguez made just one start for Team Nicaragua, who was eliminated in pool play, and he covered four innings while surrendering just one earned run on two hits and struck out three opposing hitters in the process. That start came against the talented Team Cuba and while Rodríguez kept his team in the game for the first four innings, the contest ended in a 9-1 loss for Team Nicaragua.

Though it's obviously not yet decided when Rodríguez will pitch, Team Nicaragua begins their WBC journey with a matchup against the Dominican Republic on Friday, March 6. They play each of the next three days as well and all of their games will take place at loanDepot Park in Miami.