Javier Assad to Play For Team Mexico in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Javier Assad is the latest Chicago Cub to announce his commitment to play in the World Baseball Classic. He will compete for Team Mexico, the same team he played for in 2023.
Tenemos caballo🔥🐎
Confirmamos a Javier Assad para el Clásico Mundial de Beisbol 2026 🇲🇽
Potencia, entrega y corazón listos para dejarlo todo en el diamante 💥#EsMiSangre🩸🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/FK2wuq2o2B— Novena México 🇲🇽⚾ (@MexicoBeis) February 5, 2026
During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Assad threw 5.2 scoreless innings, logging six strikeouts and only allowing one walk.
Assad threw only 37.0 innings during the 2025 season due to an oblique injury, spending most of the year on the 60-day IL. When healthy, he provides the Cubs with versatility, with the ability to pitch out of the bullpen or join the team’s rotation.
Assad is the seventh Cub to announce his intent to play in the 2026 WBC, joining Pete Crow‑Armstrong (Team USA), Matthew Boyd (Team USA), Jameson Taillon (Team Canada), Alex Bregman (Team USA), Daniel Palencia (Team Venezuela), and Seiya Suzuki (Team Japan).
