Alumni Spotlight – Four Former Keys Named to World Baseball Classic Rosters
FREDERICK, MD – When the 2026 World Baseball Classic begins on March 4, four former Keys players will take the field representing their home countries in the first World Baseball Classic since 2023. Those former players include infielder Manny Machado (2011 and 2014), left-handed pitcher Alex Wells (2018), right-handed pitcher
FREDERICK, MD – When the 2026 World Baseball Classic begins on March 4, four former Keys players will take the field representing their home countries in the first World Baseball Classic since 2023. Those former players include infielder Manny Machado (2011 and 2014), left-handed pitcher Alex Wells (2018), right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer (2019), and infielder Zach Dezenzo (2021).
Machado is set to play for the Dominican Republic alongside rising superstars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ketel Marte in the infield and will serve as the team’s primary first baseman during the tournament.
During this past season with the San Diego Padres, Machado played 159 games and recorded a .275 average with 27 homers and 95 RBIs. The 159 games played are also the most in a single season since he played all 162 games during the 2018 season with both Baltimore and San Diego.
As for Wells, he’ll get set to compete for his home country of Australia. While he hasn’t played for the Orioles since 2022, he most recently made nine starts for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League throughout the 2025-26 campaign and compiled a 5-3 record with a 3.42 ERA. This came after finishing with a 1.55 ERA in the 2024-25 season with Sydney, which included one complete game shutout.
Kremer meanwhile will suit up for Israel during the World Baseball Classic and aims to be a reliable arm alongside fellow Orioles right-handed hurler Matt Bowman. During this past season in Baltimore, Kremer finished with 29 starts in 31 appearances and amassed an 11-10 record, all while totaling 142 strikeouts in 171.2 innings. The 142 punchouts are the most for Kremer in a single season since 2023, when he finished with 157 strikeouts in 172.2 innings on the hill.
Regarding Dezenzo, he’ll look to guide Italy to a run after recently completing his second full season of Major League Baseball in 2025. In 34 games last season, Dezenzo posted a .245 average with two homer and 10 RBIs, filling in a role for a deep Houston Astros infield. This came after he became the first MLB Draft League Player to get called up to the Major Leagues last summer following a standout Minor League career in the Astros organization.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will begin on Wednesday, March 4 at 10 PM ET at the Tokyo Dome with the rest of pool play in other locations beginning Friday, March 6. The final takes place Tuesday, March 17 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.
Watch these and more future stars as the Frederick Keys make their return to affiliated baseball next season as the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The first home game will take place on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. against the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) at the newly renovated Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Single-game tickets and the promotional schedule will be released at a later date.