While the 2025 season still has plenty of games left for the Boston Red Sox, an increasing number of baseball enthusiasts are already getting excited about the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The 2023 event was wildly successful, and this time around, even more big names are signing up to participate.

Team USA is leading the charge with early commitments from Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes, and numerous other stars are already announcing their participation. Team Mexico drew significant attention in the last tournament, as it was the only squad featuring multiple active Red Sox players.

Then-Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo and current outfielder Jarren Duran both contributed to Mexico’s journey to the semifinals. Given Duran’s rise to All-Star status since the last WBC, it’s likely he’ll return to the lineup in March. Additionally, he might be joined by a different Red Sox teammate this time—one whom Boston fans are eager to see in a Red Sox uniform for the first time.

As reported by Shawn Spradling on X, Team Mexico’s general manager Rodrigo López mentioned that Duran and Red Sox top shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer have been in discussions about playing for Mexico in March. Although both Mayer and Duran hail from California, they each have at least one parent born in Mexico—Duran’s father, Octavio, and both of Mayer’s parents, Enrique and Myriam.

The two players were also part of the Red Sox’s exhibition trip to Monterrey, Mexico before the season kicked off, where they expressed heartfelt sentiments about playing in a country that holds part of their heritage. The potential inclusion of Duran and Mayer would be significant for Team Mexico, which defeated Team USA in pool play in 2023 and came close to toppling the eventual champions, Team Japan, in the semifinals. Red Sox fans would certainly enjoy seeing them both take on pivotal roles this time around.