An IronPigs Guide to the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Piggyville has gone international! The 2026 World Baseball Classic takes place this spring and this year’s edition will have the most IronPigs connections than any other previous year. ‘Pigs past and present dot rosters (and coaching staffs), turning Bacon, USA into a global enterprise. Let’s take a global adventure through the participating teams in the WBC and see which ‘Pigs past and present will be suiting up for their nations.

For those wondering how some players born in one country are allowed to represent another: WBC eligibility rules dictate that to be able to represent a team on the international stage you need only be ELIGIBLE to apply for citizenship of that nation. So even if you don’t hold a passport from that nation, you can still represent them in the WBC.

Australia

LHP Josh Hendrickson – A former Phillies farm hand, Hendrickson was released by the Phillies after the 2023 season, but did appear in three games for the ‘Pigs, striking out 14 in 10 inning.

RHP Mitch Neunborn – Born in South Africa, Neunborn grew up in Australia and now represents them on the world stage. Neunborn also represented Australia in the 2023 WBC. Neunborn pitched for the ‘Pigs in 2025, making eight starts.

Hitting Coach Chris “Tank” Adamson – Tank was the Aussie’s hitting coach in 2023 and reprises that role for the 2026 WBC. He currently serves as the ‘Pigs bench coach, a role he’s held since 2024.

Canada

RHP Phillipe Aumont – Although he gave up professional baseball in 2020 to pursue farming, Aumont was once a top Phillies prospect and spent parts of five years pitching for the ‘Pigs and parts of four seasons with the Phillies.

RHP Noah Skirrow – Skirrow also repped Canada in the 2023 WBC, the same year he spent the full campaign with the ‘Pigs, going 8-4 with a 5.84 ERA. In 2023, Skirrow threw five shutout innings against Colombia to earn the win during pool play.

Colombia

RHP Nabil Crismatt – The Crizzler™️ will be a part of Colombia’s starting rotation. Crismatt was a vital cog for the 2025 IronPigs, making 19 starts and accumulating just over 100 innings.

RHP Guillo Zuñiga – Another member of the 2025 IronPigs, the flame-throwing righty will be in Colombia’s bullpen. In 2025, Zuñiga made 38 appearances for the ‘Pigs.

C Jorge Alfaro – It’s been a while since he’s played for Lehigh Valley, but once a ‘Pig always a ‘Pig! Alfaro donned the bacon back in 2017, playing 84 games for the ‘Pigs and swatting seven homers.

Dominican Republic

RHP Seranthony Domínguez – Domínguez pitched for the ‘Pigs as a flame-throwing prospect in 2018 and again in 2021 coming off Tommy John Surgery before making rehab stints in 2022 & 2023. In total, Domínguez only made 18 appearances for the ‘Pigs over the years.

LHP Cristopher Sánchez – You never know when it’s going to be your final game as a ‘Pig. Sánchez threw six innings of one-run baseball for the ‘Pigs against Syracuse on June 10, 2023 to earn the win and hasn’t made an appearance since for the ‘Pigs, transforming into an ace for the Phillies. Sánchez appeared for the ‘Pigs every year from 2021-’23.

OF Johan Rojas – A 2025 IronPig, Rojas will patrol the outfield for the D.R. First appearing with the ‘Pigs in 2024, Rojas finished out 2025 with Lehigh Valley, slashing .279/.338/.361 in the final 35 games of the season.

Bench Coach Placido Polanco – A ‘Pig for a day, a ‘Pig for life. Polanco appeared on rehab with the ‘Pigs in 2011, playing just two games (and actually failing to pick up a hit!). He will serve as bench coach on Manager Albert Pujols’s staff.

Great Britain

RHP Tyler Viza – Viza spent six year in the Phillies MiLB system, appearing in game for the IronPigs in 2018 and 2019, totaling 24 games in all.

RHP Vance Worley – The Vanimal will be repping the Three Lions for a second straight WBC. Vance pitched for the ‘Pigs in 2010 and 2011 while also pitching for the Phillies in parts of 2010-2012.

Pitching Coach Barry Enright – Enright pitched for the ‘Pigs 2014, making 19 starts. His playing career ended in 2018 and he has become a pitching coach, leading the Angels staff last season and is currently the pitching coordinator for the Athletics.

Israel

RHP Max Lazar – Lazar has pitched out of the bullpen for the ‘Pigs the past two seasons, making his Major League debut with the Phillies as well. This will be the first time Lazar represents Israel on the national stage.

C Garrett Stubbs – A fan favorite for the Phillies and the IronPigs last season, Stubbs also repped Israel in the 2023 WBC, but that was cut short by injury. Stubbs will form a catching tandem with his brother, CJ, the other backstop on the club.

Bullpen Coach Jason Marquis – Marquis actually appeared in eight games (all starts) for the ‘Pigs in 2014. Marquis has pitched for Israel in the past but will serve as bullpen coach this time around.

Italy

RHP Aaron Nola – Nola played with the ‘Pigs in 2025 as part of his rehab from injury, but was last with the ‘Pigs in a non-rehab assignment in 2015. Now a stalwart of the Phillies rotation, Nola will get a chance to support Italy on the international stage for the first time.

Mexico

RHP Jesus Cruz – Cruz last appeared with the ‘Pigs in 2023, his only season in Lehigh Valley. He pitched in 28 games that year, going 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA. Cruz also represented Mexico in the 2023 WBC.

INF Joey Meneses – The 2018 International League MVP with the IronPigs, Meneses helped lead a stacked roster that season to the IL postseason.

RHP Taijuan Walker - Walker has played for the 'Pigs on rehab, making two rehab starts back in 2024. Walker also represented Mexico in the 2023 WBC.

Netherlands

SS Didi Gregorious – Sir Didi! Gregorous has been a longtime member of the Dutch National Team. Gregorious twice appeared on rehab with the ‘Pigs in 2021 & 2022, totaling 12 games in all. Gregorious was born in Amsterdam and moved to Curaçao at five years old.

Nicaragua

RHP JC Ramirez – Ramirez was part of the return from the Mariners in the Cliff Lee trade (shudders). He moved quickly through the system, pitching for the ‘Pigs in 2012 & 2013. He first represented Nicaragua in 2013.

Panama

INF Johan Camargo – Camargo was a part of the ‘Pigs in 2022, playing in 41 games before he joined the Phillies, helping the club of the bench en route the National League pennant that season.

INF Edmundo Sosa – We love Sosa! Edmundo has appeared on rehab with the ‘Pigs so we claim him here. A stalwart utility infielder for the Phillies, Sosa has become a fan favorite and will feature prominently in the Panamanian infield.

INF Rubén Tejada – Remembered more as the second baseman who’s leg was broken by Chase Utley, Tejada actually joined the Phillies organization and played for the ‘Pigs in 2021, appearing in 72 games. Tejada first represented Panama in the 2009 WBC.

Puerto Rico

RHP Yacksel Ríos – Ríos pitched for the ‘Pigs from 2017-2019, also making his Major League debut during that time frame as well for the Phillies.

United States

1B Bryce Harper – Perhaps the most famous ‘Pig (or IronMutt) ever? Harper played two rehab games back in 2022, walloping two homers and a walk-off base knock. Harper has represented the United States going back to his teenage years when he was on the U-18 team.

Venezuela

LHP José Alvarado – Alvarado has appeared on many occasions for the ‘Pigs, both on rehab and not. He’s pitched with the ‘Pigs every year but 2024 in the past five seasons.

LHP Ranger Suárez – No longer with the Phillies, Suárez left his mark on the people of Lehigh Valley, making numerous rehab starts the past few seasons in addition to his time spent with the ‘Pigs as a prospect.

And that’s everyone. 31 different IronPigs, past and present, all on the world stage this spring. There very well may be more names to add to this list as Phillies prospect Jayden Estanista (Netherlands) and Dante Nori (Italy) will each suit up for the WBC but have not yet played for the ‘Pigs.

Gabriel Rincones Jr. (born in Venezuela, grew up in Scotland) will likely have multiple countries vying for his services in the future, but is sitting out this WBC.