FORT MYERS, Fla.- For the second time in his young professional career, former Florida SouthWestern righthander Carlos Rodriguez will be representing his country as he suits up for Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic this weekend in Miami. 

 

Rodriguez will suit up in the Blue and White this weekend in Pool D in Miami, where he and Nicaragua will square off against the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands, and Isreal. He is tentatively scheduled to get the ball Sunday against Isreal in a 7 PM first pitch from LoanDepot Park just 10 miles away from where he starred as a prep at Miami Christian High School.

 

It will mark Rodriguez's second WBC with Nicaragua after making the team as a 21 year old in 2023. In his lone appearance in that Classic he threw four solid innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out three against a loaded Puerto Rico lineup that included Francisco Lindor, Kike Hernandez, and Javy Baez. 

 

Rodriguez pitched one season with the Bucs before being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 6th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft.  He was 7-2 in 10 starts, striking out 62 in 47 innings pitched while notching the lowest single season ERA by a starter in program history at 2.11. 

 

Rodriguez's professional journey with the Brewers has included him being named the Crew's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2022 & 2023 before becoming the first former Buc in program history to reach the Major Leagues when he debuted in 2024. He spent parts of both the 2024 and 2025 season in the Big Leagues with the Brewers and is expected to contend for a roster spot once again out of camp this season. 

 

2021 Buc and current Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand Antonio Knowles was also set to play in the 2026 WBC for Great Britian, but unfortunately, like many players this year, had issues in securing insurance to play in the event which prevented him from wearing the Union Jack for the tournament.