SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The electric atmosphere at Estadio Hiram Bithorn on Friday night drowned out weeks of frustration as Puerto Rico kicked off its World Baseball Classic hosting duties with a convincing 5-0 victory over Colombia in the opening game of Pool A. A sellout crowd of 18,793 fans, joined by millions more watching across the island and its diaspora, erupted in cheers under the rhythmic percussion of traditional music, marking the team's first home game as a WBC host since 2013.
The triumph came amid lingering bitterness over a roster plagued by absences. In late January, Puerto Rico's brightest stars — including New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, and Detroit Tigers infielder Javier Báez — were sidelined due to stricter insurance requirements implemented since the last tournament. The changes stemmed from injuries in previous WBCs, such as closer Edwin Díaz's season-ending knee injury while celebrating a 2017 win over the Dominican Republic and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve's thumb issue that cost him the first seven weeks of that season.
José Quiles, president of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation, had even threatened to withdraw the team entirely as anger boiled over the red tape. But by first pitch, the resentment had faded. Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina, speaking in Spanish after the game, emphasized resilience: "We're not going to bow our heads. We trust our talent, we trust our pitching, we trust the defense. We're going to score. We're going to run the bases. We believe that these guys are ready for this event."
The team took the field with its players sporting bleached blond hair or beards, upholding the "Team Rubio" tradition that debuted in the 2017 WBC. Light on marquee names but heavy on young talent eager to prove themselves, the squad featured 39-year-old captain Martin Maldonado catching what could be his final games as a player. Additions like St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, a two-time All-Star and potential future Hall of Famer, and Minnesota Twins infielder Willi Castro provided some star power to offset the losses.
Insurance denials hit hard. Lindor and Correa were notified in late January that they wouldn't qualify, creating significant gaps in the lineup. Catcher Victor Caratini and reliever Alexis Díaz were also barred, while two-time All-Star right-hander Jose Berríos was denied for pool play but could potentially join for the quarterfinals. Relievers Jovani Moran, Luis Quiñones, and Yacksel Ríos initially faced denials that were later overturned. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Enrique Hernández, who underwent offseason elbow surgery, was already ruled out in November.
Báez's absence added another layer of disappointment: He was ineligible due to a three-year suspension for testing positive for marijuana during the 2023 WBC. A last-ditch effort by Puerto Rican music superstar Bad Bunny to secure alternative insurance for Lindor and Correa was rejected by their agencies and teams.
Despite the setbacks, the Puerto Ricans entered the tournament with the same ultimate goal as in past iterations: becoming the first team from the island to claim the WBC title. They finished as runners-up in both 2013 and 2017. This group also carried a unique mission — to demonstrate they could adequately represent a baseball nation with the second-most wins in WBC history.
Puerto Rico closer Edwin Díaz, now with the Dodgers after stints with the Mets and Mariners, drew parallels to the 2017 squad. Speaking in Spanish, he said: "I compare this team to the team in 2017, which was the first tournament for many of us, and we were able to do big things. I believe that all of us, including myself, have the same hunger to win."
The game itself tested that resolve. Colombian starter Jose Quintana, the most accomplished left-hander in his country's baseball history, kept Puerto Rico hitless through three innings. The breakthrough came in the fifth, when right fielder Carlos Cortes singled off reliever Adrian Almeida for the team's first hit of the tournament.
From there, the offense exploded. Puerto Rico scored five runs on five hits and an error in the fifth inning, thrilling the crowd. Starter Seth Lugo, who pitched four scoreless innings, described the energy: "It was electric out there. Every inning, you could feel the fans." Díaz then sealed the win with his signature trumpet entrance, working the final three innings for the save.
Molina acknowledged the pain of the missing players but refocused on the present: "It hurts. But we're focused on the guys that are here who are ready to represent, to show the people of Puerto Rico that we can count on them." The coaching staff, led by general manager Carlos Beltrán and including Edgar Martinez, Juan Gonzalez, and Sandy Alomar Jr., brought more star power than the roster itself, with Díaz and Arenado as the only current All-Stars.
Enrique Hernández, who flew in from Arizona to support the team in full uniform, echoed the sentiment of defiance. In Spanish, he remarked: "I see this as a young team who is very hungry and has a lot of desire to win. People say the team is not 'complete,' but if there's something that makes us Puerto Ricans, it's that we take advantage to the maximum."
Puerto Rico opened as co-favorite in Pool A with Canada, despite the absences. Their next challenge comes Saturday night against Panama. In the knockout stages, they would likely enter as underdogs against powerhouse teams loaded with talent, but the players are determined to show they belong on the big stage.
The insurance hurdles affected Puerto Rico more than any other nation, highlighting evolving safety protocols in international baseball. While the WBC aims to showcase the world's best, the stricter qualifications underscore the tournament's growing stakes for players' careers. For now, though, the focus in San Juan is on the wins — and the pride of a nation rallying behind its underdogs.
As the archipelago celebrates this opening victory, the question lingers: Can this resilient group channel the island's passion into a championship run? With home-field energy and unyielding spirit, Puerto Rico is ready to find out.