Javier Báez Barred from 2026 WBC Over 2023 Marijuana Test, Leaving Team Puerto Rico Without Its Spark
Team Puerto Rico just took a major hit ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic - and the timing, the reason, and the ripple effects are all tough to stomach.
Javier Báez, one of the tournament’s most dynamic and beloved figures, has been ruled ineligible to participate due to a positive drug test… from 2023. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), which oversees the WBC, handed down the suspension after Báez tested positive for marijuana three years ago.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a PED violation. This wasn’t a case of someone trying to gain a competitive edge.
This was a marijuana-related suspension - a substance that’s now legal for recreational use in over half the U.S., and medically legal in Báez’s home of Puerto Rico. And yet, the ruling stands.
Báez is out.
For Team Puerto Rico, it’s a crushing blow. For fans of the WBC, it’s a loss of one of the tournament’s most electric showmen. And for Báez, who had worked his way back into All-Star form in 2025 after a rocky few seasons, it’s a missed opportunity to continue building on a legacy that’s already rich in WBC lore.
El Mago’s WBC Magic, Interrupted
If you’ve followed international baseball over the last decade, you know what Báez brings to the WBC stage. He’s not just a player - he’s a spark plug, a walking highlight reel, a guy who can turn a routine tag into a viral moment. He made the All-WBC team back in 2017 as Puerto Rico’s starting second baseman, and in 2023, he was even better, slashing .368/.368/.667 across the tournament.
Those numbers weren’t just good - they were a reminder of what makes Báez such a unique force. He’s instinctual, fearless, and plays with a flair that few can match.
There’s a reason he’s called El Mago - “The Magician” - and it’s not just for the no-look tags and daring base running. It’s the way he elevates the energy of the game every time he steps on the field.
And while he may not be the same player who once carried the Cubs through deep postseason runs, Báez proved last season that he still has plenty left in the tank. After years of inconsistency, he earned an All-Star nod in 2025 with the Tigers, showing flashes of the elite talent that once made him one of the most exciting players in the league.
Now, that resurgence won’t carry over to the world stage - not because of injury, not because of performance, but because of a three-year-old marijuana test that Major League Baseball itself no longer even tests for.
Puerto Rico’s Depth Tested
Báez’s absence adds to a growing list of setbacks for Team Puerto Rico. They’ll also be without Francisco Lindor, José Altuve, and Carlos Correa - all denied insurance coverage for the tournament, rendering them ineligible to play. That’s a staggering amount of star power sidelined before the first pitch.
What was shaping up to be one of the most talented rosters in the WBC now faces serious questions about depth, leadership, and offensive firepower. Báez was expected to be a cornerstone - not just for his bat or glove, but for the energy he brings to the dugout and the swagger he brings to the diamond.
Without him, Puerto Rico will have to lean heavily on its younger core and hope that others can step into the leadership void. But replacing a player like Báez - especially in a short tournament where momentum and emotion play such a huge role - is no small task.
Cubs Well-Represented in the WBC
While Báez won’t be suiting up for Puerto Rico, the Chicago Cubs will still be well represented in the 2026 WBC. Eleven current Cubs players are participating, spread across multiple national teams:
- Team USA: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Matthew Boyd, Alex Bregman
- Team Japan: Seiya Suzuki
- Team Canada: Jameson Taillon
- Team Chinese Taipei: Jonathon Long
- Team Venezuela: Daniel Palencia
- Team Mexico: Javier Assad
- Team Great Britain: BJ Murray Jr.
- Team Puerto Rico: Yacksel Rios
- Team Panama: Miguel Amaya
It’s a testament to the organization’s international reach and the talent it’s developed and acquired. For Cubs fans, it’ll be a chance to see familiar faces competing on a global stage - even if one of the most iconic names from their championship era won’t be among them.
A Missed Moment for the Game
The World Baseball Classic is meant to showcase the best of the sport - its talent, its culture, its passion. Few players embody that spirit more than Javier Báez. His flair, his fire, his love for representing Puerto Rico - that’s what fans come to see.
Instead, a dated suspension for a now widely accepted substance will keep him off the field. It’s a decision that feels out of step with where the game - and society - is headed.
And for a tournament that thrives on emotion, energy, and star power, this one stings. Not just for Báez, not just for Puerto Rico, but for baseball fans everywhere who were hoping to see El Mago work his magic one more time on the world stage.