60+ NJCAA Alumni to Compete in 2026 World Baseball Classic

Charlotte, NC – 67 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) alumni and current student-athletes will compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The World Baseball Classic runs from Wednesday, March 4 to Tuesday, March 17, beginning with pool play and culminating in a winner-take-all final game. Teams are divided into four pools of five squads. Pool play games will take place in four locations: Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; and Miami, Florida. 

In the Numbers 

• 45 NJCAA member institutions are represented in the tournament 

• The breakdown of NJCAA individuals is 47 athletes and 20 coaches  

• Four current NJCAA student-athletes are rostered; all of them are representing Czechia 

• Czechia has 12 NJCAA alumni on the roster 

• 14 of the 20 rosters include at least one NJCAA alumnus  

• 13 individuals were selected in the MLB Draft directly from their two-year college 

• Chipola College (FL) leads the way with four alumni participating 

• Current NJCAA Region 8 schools produced 19 participants, leading all NJCAA regions 

Names to Know 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, Albert Pujols, was named Manager for the Dominican Republic squad at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Pujols played at MCC-Maple Woods (MO) in 1999 before he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, beginning his 22-year professional career. 

A former MLB Draft first overall pick, Bryce Harper, was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 draft out of the College of Southern Nevada. Harper won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award after his freshman season in which he hit .443 with 98 RBI and a Southern Nevada-record 31 home runs. The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be Harper's first with the United States. 

Andy Pettitte was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 1990 but opted to play baseball at San Jacinto College (TX). The Yankees retained Pettitte's rights, and he signed with New York in 1991. Pettitte's decorated career includes five MLB World Series titles and three All-Star nods before he retired in 2013. Pettitte will serve as the Pitching Coach for Team USA. 

Fellow New York Yankee, Jorge Posada, jumpstarted his career from the junior college ranks at Calhoun Community College (AL). After two seasons at Calhoun, Posada was selected in the 1990 MLB Draft by the Yankees, starting a 17-year professional career. Posada was a five-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner while notching five World Series titles. Posada was named the Assistant Hitting Coach for Italy at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

The hero of Galveston College (TX)'s historic 1994 season, José Rosado, was chosen as the Pitching Coach for Puerto Rico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Rosado was named the Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher at the 1994 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series after leading the Whitecaps to the title in the school's third year of intercollegiate athletic competition. Rosado was drafted from Galveston by the Kansas City Royals in the 1994 MLB Draft and became a two-time All-Star before his playing career was cut short due to injury. 

Left-handed pitcher, Rio Gomez, joined the Mesa Community College (AZ) baseball team as a walk-on in 2014 after he was previously cut from his high school baseball team. Gomez then joined the University of Arizona as a preferred walk-on and pitched in the 2016 College World Series where the Wildcats finished as runners-up. The lefty was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 2017 MLB Draft. Gomez is making his second appearance at the World Baseball Classic with Colombia. 

Infielder, Sam Antonacci, was named the 2023 NJCAA Division II Baseball Player of the Year after a stellar sophomore season with Heartland Community College (IL). After a successful junior college career, Antonacci transferred to Coastal Carolina where he continued to shine. After his junior year with the Chanticleers, Antonacci was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 5th round of the 2024 MLB draft and will participate with Italy for this year's World Baseball Classic.