Dodgers Stars Gather for World Baseball Classic, Legends Past and Present Unite

Three years ago, Edwin Díaz became the focal point of a memorable World Baseball Classic incident due to an unfortunate cause.

Following Díaz's key save for Puerto Rico against the Dominican Republic, his post-game celebration with teammates took a bad turn. He fell to the ground with a complete tear of his right patellar tendon, wiping out his entire 2023 season before it started. It was a sobering scene, yet that memory hasn't caused Díaz any hesitation about representing Puerto Rico again in the 2026 Classic.

"I don't think about that," Díaz said. "I have the chance to pitch in front of Puerto Rican fans. The decision was easy."

For the four other Dodgers players participating in this year's Classic, the choice was equally straightforward. Before officially pursuing a three-peat, the Dodgers' Classic-bound players are fighting for a higher honor.

Over the past week, the bustling Dodgers spring training camp has gradually quieted as players departed for the tournament. Shohei Ohtani was the first to leave, followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto who joined him in Tokyo, with much of the media following the two Japanese stars also departing. Hyeseong Kim (South Korea), Díaz (Puerto Rico), and Will Smith (USA) are the other members of the Los Angeles MLB contingent, not to mention Clayton Kershaw who is making a comeback to play for Team USA.

Before leaving, players prepared not just on the field but off it as well. Díaz dyed his hair blonde, a tradition for Team Puerto Rico. Even Kiké Hernández, who has previously played for Puerto Rico and is currently on the 60-day injured list recovering from left elbow surgery, sported freshly dyed blonde hair during today's workout.

After another World Series championship, the Dodgers' offseason was once again shortened. This left the Classic participants with very limited time to ramp up before jumping into meaningful games. For Hyeseong Kim, performing well in spring training was actually a priority, as he is competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Like nearly every player, Kim will tell you: the opportunity to represent one's country is so special that it takes precedence over most other things.

"Being able to represent my country is one of the greatest honors I can have," Kim said through interpreter Mr. Kim. "That was my thought when I first put on the national team jersey. For this Classic, and any international event where I have the chance to represent my country, my mindset is the same."

The Classic's group stage runs from March 5 to 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; Tokyo, Japan; and Miami, Florida. This means Dodgers players like Díaz, Ohtani, and Yamamoto will get the rare chance to play in front of their home crowds. Ohtani and Yamamoto experienced this last year during the Tokyo Series, while for Díaz, he believes this will be his first time playing in Puerto Rico since becoming a professional.

"Being able to pitch in front of family and friends is the most important thing for me," Díaz said. "Fans in Puerto Rico don't have the chance to travel long distances to see us play in the majors. So pitching in front of family and friends is something I'm really looking forward to."

Smith will share catching duties with AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh. He looks forward to working with the star-studded U.S. pitching staff, which features last year's two Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. He's also thrilled to share the field with Kershaw one last time, just four months after they won their third World Series together.

"I'm excited he's joining us," Smith said. "I know he was disappointed he couldn't make it last time. So it's a really cool experience for him and for me, and we're going to try to go get that gold medal together."

A question often arises early in spring training: which holds greater significance, winning the World Series or winning the Classic? The Dodgers might be the most qualified team to answer. Among the L.A. players, only Yamamoto and Ohtani have won both, and they are striving to help Samurai Japan continue its dominance in the tournament.

"I feel they are somewhat different; they are two distinct types of victories," Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda, but regarding their significance, he continued, "They are equally important."