When looking at World Baseball Classic rosters, it's difficult to not fawn over the lineup the Dominican Republic is trotting out.
This roster is utterly loaded. There's a Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young winner, an MVP runner up, and a Home Run Derby winner at first blush -- and that's just accolades from the 2022 season. It's essentially an MLB All-Star team.
While that guarantees the Dominican Republic nothing in the scheme of the tournament, it certainly makes it must-see TV. Some of these players took the stage in the championship-winning Caribbean Series team, including Robinson Canó. Others -- or rather, one other -- are player-GM Nelson Cruz, who is pulling double duty.
As for the superstars, there are plenty to speak of. Juan Soto and Julio Rodríguez are in the outfield; Manny Machado, Wander Franco, Rafael Devers and Jeremy Peña are in the infield, and Sandy Alcántara will be on the pitching staff. The Dominican Republic has found itself the odds-on favorite to win this year's championship and join Japan as multi-World Baseball Classic winners, and that isn't by accident.
MORE: 2023 World Baseball Classic: 10 pitcher-hitter matchups we can't wait to see
Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic 2023 roster
There's stacked, and then there's whatever you'd call the Dominican Republic roster.
Among their starting pitchers are Sandy Alcántara and Cristian Javier, the latter of whom was the figurehead of an Astros no-hitter in the World Series. In the bullpen, however, is where the pitching staff shines. Rafael Montero, Héctor Neris, and Gregory Soto can all go in late-game situations, and Camilo Doval and Bryan Abreu can put out fires.
The field doesn't have any weak spots. The Dominican Republic is three deep at shortstop with Willy Adames, Jeremy Peña, and Wander Franco. At third base, they have Manny Machado and Rafael Devers. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was slated to start at first, but he was ruled out with a knee injury.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will not participate in the WBC now, the #BlueJays tell us.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 4, 2023
In the outfield, meanwhile, the Mariners will be well-represented with AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez and new acquisition Teoscar Hernández. Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz are also in the outfield. Gary Sanchez and the Rays' Francisco Mejía round things out at catcher.
Pitchers
| Player | Team | Throws |
| Bryan Abreu | Houston Astros | R |
| Sandy Alcántara | Miami Marlins | R |
| Diego Castillo | Seattle Mariners | R |
| Roansy Contreras | Pittsburgh Pirates | R |
| Johnny Cueto | Miami Marlins | R |
| Camilo Doval | San Francisco Giants | R |
| Jarlín García | Pittsburgh Pirates | L |
| Luis García | San Diego Padres | R |
| Yimi García | Toronto Blue Jays | R |
| Cristian Javier | Houston Astros | R |
| José Leclerc | Texas Rangers | R |
| Rafael Montero | Houston Astros | R |
| Héctor Neris | Houston Astros | R |
| Gregory Soto | Philadelphia Phillies | L |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Francisco Mejía | Tampa Bay Rays | R/R |
| Gary Sanchez | Free Agent | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| Willy Adames | Milwaukee Brewers | SS | R/R |
| Robinson Canó | Free Agent | 2B | L/R |
| Rafael Devers | Boston Red Sox | 3B | L/R |
| Wander Franco | Tampa Bay Rays | SS | S/R |
| Manny Machado | San Diego Padres | 3B | R/R |
| Ketel Marte | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2B | S/R |
| Jeremy Peña | Houston Astros | SS | R/R |
| Jean Segura | Miami Marlins | 2B | R/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Position | Bats/Throws |
| Nelson Cruz | San Diego Padres | RF | R/R |
| Teoscar Hernández | Seattle Mariners | RF | R/R |
| Eloy Jiménez | Chicago White Sox | LF | R/R |
| Julio Rodríguez | Seattle Mariners | CF | R/R |
| Juan Soto | San Diego Padres | RF | L/L |
MORE: World Baseball Classic odds: USA, Dominican Republic among the favorites to win WBC
Dominican Republic players to watch
Players to watch for the DR will be whoever is at the plate at the time.
Want power? Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Julio Rodríguez, Willy Adames, and Juan Soto can sate that. Consistency? Wander Franco, Jeremy Peña, and Jean Segura have it covered.
On the mound, NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara will be a player to watch alongside Cristian Javier. Out of the bullpen, the parade of Astros will continue with Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Héctor Neris getting serious innings. Camilo Doval and Phillies fans' first glimpse of Gregory Soto in a different uniform are among the other key players dealing for the Dominicans.
MORE: World Baseball Classic 2023: MLB team-by-team roster breakdown
Who is coaching the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic?
The Dominican Republic's manager is not as front-facing as its roster. Rodney Linares, the bench coach of the Rays -- and thus possibly next in line for a manager job down the road -- will be coaching the Dominican Republic.
Linares was promoted to bench coach by the Rays after the Royals hired his predecessor, Matt Quatraro, as their new manager. Linares has been coaching in MLB for the past four years and has decades of experience coaching in the minor leagues.
The sheer talent on the Dominican Republic presents a few interesting problems for Linares to solve, specifically who plays when. It's a team that's so good it feels like no lineup can be "wrong," but only nine players can be on the field at a time.
This will be Linares' first time managing in the World Baseball Classic.
Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic history
The Dominican Republic is one of three countries to have won the World Baseball Classic, having defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 in the 2013 final.
It has made it to the semifinal round twice, and been bounced in the first round one time back in 2009, when it was pooled with the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and Panama.
The Dominican Republic went undefeated in its championship run in 2013, giving up a total of just 14 runs over eight games. It's the only time a team has gone undefeated in World Baseball Classic to date.
| Year | Result | Final game |
| 2006 | Finished in fourth place | 3-1 loss to Cuba |
| 2009 | Eliminated in pools | 2-1 loss to Netherlands |
| 2013 | Won Championship | 3-0 win over Puerto Rico |
| 2017 | Eliminated in second round | 6-3 loss to USA |
| 2023 | TBD | TBD |
Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule
The Dominican Republic will be playing in a very fun Pool D at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
Its group includes Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Israel.
The Dominican Republic's tournament will begin against Ronald Acuña Jr., Miguel Cabrera, and the Venezuela squad on March 11.
Pools will end against Puerto Rico on March 15.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel (U.S.) |
| March 11 | Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| March 13 | Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua | 12 p.m. | FS2 |
| March 14 | Israel vs. Dominican Republic | 7 p.m. | FS2 |
| March 15 | Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic | 7 p.m. | FS2 |
