"In a story tonight at The Detroit Free Press, Evan Petzold reports that Javier Báez is ineligible for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic ... due to a suspension for marijuana use. In the year 2026. When it is legal recreationally in 24 states (and legal at least medically in 40/50). So, so stupid. But here's the crazier part: this wasn't even a recent test."
"According to Petzold, Javier Báez can't play for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 WBC because he's serving a suspension for a drug test he took back in March ........... of 2023! As a result of that test, Petzold writes, "Báez received a two-year period of ineligibility - April 26, 2024, to April 26, 2026 - from World Baseball Softball Confederation events." This year's WBC is in March."
"On top of everything else, Puerto Rico was already considering withdrawing from the WBC altogether as 8-10 of their key players (including Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa) were reportedly denied insurance coverage to participate in the event. For whatever it's worth, I saw at least one report mention that Javier Báez was also being left out for those reasons. Shrug. I guess it doesn't matter now."
Javier Báez is barred from participating with Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to a two-year ineligibility from World Baseball Softball Confederation events tied to a drug test administered in March 2023. The suspension covers April 26, 2024 through April 26, 2026, which overlaps the March 2026 tournament. The penalty arose from marijuana use despite legal recreational status in many U.S. states and widespread medical legalization. The exclusion compounds Puerto Rico’s roster challenges, as 8–10 key players reportedly faced insurance denials, and previous reports suggested Báez might have been omitted for insurance-related reasons. Báez previously produced standout WBC performances.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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