Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran will not play for the Dominican Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to a report from La UCA Deportes on X.
Duran did not play in the 2023 edition of the 20-team international tournament either.
The Phillies acquired the soon-to-be 28-year-old from the Minnesota Twins near the trade deadline. He had a 2.18 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 20.2 innings in 23 games with Philadelphia, recording 16 saves in the process.
The Dominican Republic's bullpen will have to make do without one of the best closers in Major League Baseball. Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista was a leading candidate to join the bullpen, but he will miss a significant portion of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery for a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his throwing shoulder.
Phillies fans may be excited that Duran will not play
The 2026 season will be Duran's first full year with the Phillies. He reaches free agency in 2028. After watching the freak accident that was Edwin Diaz's injury in 2023, Phillies fans may prefer he not play in the WBC.
"It would be awesome for Phillies fans to see another top-tier representative in addition to Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber," Matt Davis of That Balls Outta Here wrote Saturday. "However, the idea that he wants to get himself ready for the Phillies' season is perhaps far more important for himself and the team, rather than throwing high-stress innings in mid-March."
Duran threw a career-high 70 innings this past season. The Phillies hope he stays healthy throughout the season and into the playoffs.
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