MLB Notebook: Wilyer Abreu’s huge WBC blast, Paul Skenes set for USA-DR clash, Red Sox buzz

The World Baseball Classic has delivered epic moments and October-like drama in the middle of March. From stunning upsets to unforgettable home run celebrations, Major League Baseball and the sport as a whole have knocked it out of the park with this international tournament.

Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu added another highlight on Saturday night. Facing defending champion Japan in the WBC quarterfinals, Abreu crushed a 409-foot, three-run homer off Japan’s Hiromi Itoh on a 2–1 pitch in the sixth inning, giving Venezuela a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Abreu admired the ball for a moment as it sailed into the Miami night, then turned toward the Venezuelan dugout before erupting with emotion as he began his trot around the bases.

“The feeling is something incredible,” Abreu said after the game. “It’s something unimaginable. It’s very difficult to describe because it was a unique moment — one of the best moments of my life.”

Abreu is 5-for-17 (.294) with a .381 on-base percentage and six RBIs in five WBC games.

That kind of clutch power is exactly what Red Sox fans hope to see from Abreu in 2026. Boston is expected to move away from platooning the outfielder and give him more everyday opportunities against both right-handed and left-handed pitching.

“We need to have Wilyer figure out lefties. We’re going to push him to do that, and I truly believe he can,” manager Alex Cora said in January.

While Saturday’s homer came against a right-hander, the display of power is an encouraging sign as the Red Sox look for Abreu to take a step forward this season. Over the past two years, he has largely been used as a platoon player.

Abreu enters his third full season in the majors, having already proven he can handle a large share of a platoon role. He owns a career 115 wRC+, including a 125 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. In 2025, however, he posted an 85 wRC+ against lefties with a notable .110 drop in slugging in those matchups.

Abreu hit 22 home runs for Boston last season, up from 15 the year before. Injuries have been an issue for the two-time Gold Glove winner, including a calf strain that sidelined him for a stretch last season. Over a full 162-game pace, he was tracking toward roughly 30 homers, which is an encouraging sign. The Red Sox need another true power bat in the lineup, and they may already have one in-house, developing over the last couple of seasons. 

Abreu’s homer helped seal Venezuela’s biggest World Baseball Classic win since the tournament began in 2006. It was also one of the most crushing losses for Japan, which suffered its earliest elimination in tournament history after falling 8–5. The defeat also led to the resignation of Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata, who stepped down from his position shortly after the loss.

It's easy for some fans to find faults with the World Baseball Classic, especially when teams like the Red Sox have several key players representing their countries. Others argue that the timing of the tournament, just weeks before the start of the regular season, can be problematic. Injuries suffered during the WBC can have real consequences for players and their clubs heading into the year.

Former Mets closer Edwin Díaz is the most famous example. He suffered a freak injury during the 2023 WBC, tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic and missing the entire MLB season.

But moments like Abreu’s home run on Saturday night show why the tournament means so much to international players. Abreu crushed a 409-foot, three-run homer in the sixth inning to give Venezuela the lead in an eventual 8–5 upset of defending champion Japan, sending the Venezuelan dugout and crowd into a frenzy.

Watching Abreu celebrate the moment with that kind of emotion makes you wonder if some players feel the same intensity winning the WBC as they do winning the World Series. The pride of representing their home country clearly carries enormous weight.

Regardless of that debate, Abreu’s swing could provide some real momentum heading into the 2026 season, especially if Venezuela continues its run and captures the World Baseball Classic title.

U.S. and Dominican Republic to do Battle in WBC Semifinal

The United States and the Dominican Republic will square off in the World Baseball Classic on Sunday for the first time since 2017, with a spot in the championship game and plenty of baseball bragging rights on the line.

Team USA has looked strong throughout the tournament aside from its upset loss to Italy earlier in pool play. Both nations have won the WBC twice, and a victory Sunday would give either side a chance to claim a record third title.

Pirates ace Paul Skenes will take the ball for the United States, and the reigning National League Cy Young winner will have his hands full with a loaded Dominican lineup. The Dominican Republic has hit 14 home runs and scored 51 runs through its first five games of the tournament.

If the U.S. hopes to punch its ticket to the finals, Skenes — and the bullpen behind him — will need to navigate a star-studded lineup featuring Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Junior Caminero and Julio Rodríguez.

The American lineup has yet to truly display its power this tournament and will get a chance to flex its muscles against D.R. starter Luis Severino. 

Skenes will likely be the best pitcher the Dominican Republic has faced in the tournament. His overpowering fastball, which reached 97.4 mph in his last outing against Mexico presents a far different challenge than the softer-throwing left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu, whom the Dominican lineup faced earlier in the tournament.

The U.S. and Dominican Republic play their game on Sunday night at 8 p.m. The winner of Monday’s Venezuela-Italy semifinal will face the winner of the United States-Dominican Republic semifinal.

“I know the fans definitely love [the Dominican flair], but I try not to look at what other teams are doing, what other people are doing,” Aaron Judge, captain of Team USA told reporters Friday night. “I’ll focus on what we got here. We got a special group of guys that love to play this game. They’re excited to be in this room. I know how they’re all honored to be in this room. They’re not taking it for granted. 

“So it’s exciting seeing what the D.R. is doing, and it’s been fun watching those games and seeing what’s going on. I think everybody in [the clubhouse] is excited to get there and be a part of it.” 

Red Sox Notes

Jarren Duran has returned to the Red Sox following Mexico’s elimination from the World Baseball Classic. Duran was one of Mexico’s most productive hitters in the tournament, going 5-for-15 with three home runs, five RBI, and two stolen bases in four games.

Trevor Story has now been