With newly signed free agent Ramón Urías opting to report to Spring Training with St. Louis Cardinals, Mexico is replacing the veteran infielder with Atlanta Braves infielder Nacho Alvarez, Jr. for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Alvarez, Jr. will be the sixth Braves player in camp for Spring Training slated play in this year’s WBC with outfielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. playing for Venezuela, non-roster invitee pitcher Javy Guerra with Panama, and outfielder Jurickson Profar, catcher Chadwick Tromp and infielder Ozzie Albies playing for the Netherlands.
Alvarez, Jr., 22, is likely on the roster bubble for Atlanta’s 26-man roster for this season. After missing much of the 2025 season due to injury, he was pressed in to action with the big league team after Austin Riley was lost for the season. Alvarez, Jr. played in 58 games for Atlanta last year after making his MLB debut in 2024. He also played in the 2025 Arizona Fall League.
Early in this year’s Spring Training, Alvarez, Jr. was working with the catchers, and would likely benefit from getting regular playing time at Triple-A regardless to whether to will look to add another defensive position to his toolbox.
Alvarez, Jr. will join a Mexican team with a number of current and former big league players, including one-time Braves prospects Victor Vodnik and Joey Meneses.