Detroit Tigers Infielder Javier Baez won’t be able to take part on this 12 months’s World Baseball Basic because of a failed marijuana check on the 2023 World Baseball Basic. As a consequence of that failed check, he was banned from taking part in in World Baseball Softball Confederation occasions via the top of April 2026.
This 12 months’s World Baseball Basic will happen between March 5, 2026, and March 17, 2026.
It’s a irritating improvement for a Puerto Rico staff that can already be with out Francisco Lindor (New York Mets) and Carlos Correa (Houston Astros), amongst different MLB gamers, because of not being cleared for insurance coverage functions.
It’s much more irritating as a result of he examined constructive two years in the past.
Javier Baez broke no MLB rule, however MLB is powerless to repair it
In accordance with a report from The Athletic on Friday, each Main League Baseball and the Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation tried to work to revive Baez’s eligibility, however the WBSC had zero curiosity in altering its drug coverage. Not even with the suspension being so near ending.
What has to make it much more maddening and irritating for Baez and Puerto Rico is that MLB has permitted gamers to make use of marijuana because the 2020 season. So he didn’t even break any MLB guidelines.
However as a result of the WBSC has totally different laws and drug insurance policies, there’s nothing MLB can do to repair it.
It’s a robust state of affairs for a Puerto Rico staff that’s already down some vital stars.
Baez had a bounce-back 12 months for the Tigers in 2025, ending with a 1.9 Wins Above Substitute and a .680 OPS. That was a big leap from the minus-1.1 WAR and .516 OPS he posted throughout the 2024 season.
