It’s official: Alexei Ramirez is back on the international stage - and doing it in style.
At 44 years old, the former White Sox shortstop has been named to Team Cuba’s final roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. While his inclusion was first floated in late December, it’s now locked in - and it’s a full-circle moment for one of the most memorable Cuban players of the 2000s.
Ramirez was just 24 when he played in the inaugural World Baseball Classic back in 2006. Now, two decades later, he returns to the tournament as its oldest player - a remarkable bookend to a career that’s spanned continents, leagues, and generations.
During his nine-year Major League career - eight of those spent on the South Side of Chicago - Ramirez made his mark as a dynamic presence at shortstop. Nicknamed the “Cuban Missile,” he posted a .273/.310/.399 slash line, earned two Silver Slugger awards, and nearly snagged AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2008, finishing second behind Evan Longoria. That same season, he set a record that still stands today: four grand slams as a rookie, the most in MLB history.
After his White Sox tenure, Ramirez had a brief stint with the Padres and Rays in 2016 before heading to Mexico for one final professional season in 2018. There, he showed he still had something left in the tank, hitting .303 with a .359 on-base percentage and a .418 slugging mark. He officially retired from professional baseball in 2021.
Now, five years later, Ramirez is suiting up once again - not for a club, but for his country. And while his return to the WBC is the headline, he’s not the only name with White Sox ties making noise ahead of the tournament.
Five current White Sox players are set to represent their countries in this year’s Classic, and several former Sox are also on rosters across the field. One of the more intriguing storylines comes from Team Brazil, where 17-year-old Joseph Contreras - the son of 2005 White Sox World Series champion Jose Contreras - has made the roster. That makes him the youngest player in the tournament, offering a striking contrast to Ramirez’s veteran presence.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins with pool play from March 5-11. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, set for March 13-14 in Houston and Miami. From there, the semifinals take place March 15-16 in Miami, with the championship game slated for March 17.
For Ramirez, it’s not just another tournament - it’s a return to where his international career began. And for fans of Cuban baseball and longtime Sox supporters, it’s a chance to see a familiar face one more time on the world stage.