Jorge CastilloMar 15, 2026, 12:31 AM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on XMultiple Authors
MIAMI — Venezuela, a country steeped in baseball tradition, made history on two fronts Saturday night when its national team defeated Japan 8-5 in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals at LoanDepot Park.
With the win over the defending WBC champions, Venezuela not only advanced to face Italy on Monday in its first WBC semifinals appearance, but it also qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking the first time the nation will participate in the Olympic baseball tournament.
“It’s the most gratifying feeling you can have as a Venezuelan,” manager Omar López said in Spanish.
Suárez, who signed a five-year contract with the Red Sox in the offseason, yielded five runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 2⅔ innings in his second outing of the tournament. López announced that Detroit Tigers right-hander Keider Montero will start for Venezuela on Monday. The team hoped Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo would join the roster to make a start in the knockout rounds, but he declined the invitation.
“We’re a world power like [the Dominican Republic], like Japan, like the United States,” López said. “They all have a value in the baseball world. But Venezuela has given a lot of legends, a lot of players who are retired and others who are active, and we can say we’re also a world power.”
With a win Monday over Italy, the tournament’s surprise team managed by Venezuelan former big leaguer Francisco Cervelli would play for the championship against either the Dominican Republic or the United States. Those teams will meet in Sunday’s semifinal matchup, knowing they will also play in the six-team Olympic tournament in July 2028 — the U.S. as the host nation and the Dominicans earning the other spot for a team from the Americas because of their semifinal showing. Venezuela joined them just after midnight Sunday morning, solidifying its place in the world’s baseball hierarchy.
Jorge CastilloMar 15, 2026, 12:31 AM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X
Wilyer Abreu’s 3-run HR puts Venezuela ahead in 6th (0:36)Wilyer Abreu crushes a three-run home run, giving Venezuela a lead in the sixth inning. (0:36)