Venezuela Secures 2026 WBC Quarterfinals: How Ronald Acuña Jr. Dominated the Game

Written by Hye Hyuk Jun Kwon | 2026.03.10

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Venezuela clinched a quarterfinal berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) with a third straight win in pool play.

On the 10th (Korea time), Venezuela defeated Nicaragua 4-0 in a first-round Pool D game at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

After victories over the Netherlands (6-2) and Israel (11-3), Venezuela’s win over Nicaragua pushed them to 3-0 and locked up their spot in the last eight.

The result also sealed quarterfinal berths for the Dominican Republic and Venezuela from Pool D.

The two teams will meet on the 12th at 9 a.m. in the Pool D finale to decide the group winner. The winner will take first place and face C-pool runner-up Korea in the quarterfinals; the loser will be second and draw C-pool winner Japan.

Korea’s quarterfinal is scheduled for the 14th at 7:30 a.m. at LoanDepot Park. After finishing their pool games on the 9th, the Korean team will fly to Miami on a charter at midnight on the 11th.

Ronald Acuña Jr. put on a one-man show for Venezuela.

Acuña, batting leadoff and playing right field, went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. The 2024 MLB MVP — who hit 41 homers and stole 73 bases last season — showcased the same power-speed combination.

In the first inning, Acuña drew a walk, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error, then scored on Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly.

He followed with a two-out solo homer over the center-field wall in the third and delivered an RBI single to left with two outs and runners at the corners in the fifth.

Venezuela added an insurance run in the sixth on a Willian Abreu sacrifice fly after an opponent error created a one-out, bases-loaded look — the only run Acuña didn’t directly influence.

On the mound, starter Yoendrys Gomez worked two innings and Keider Montero threw three; seven pitchers combined to produce a team shutout.

Nicaragua, unable to generate offense in the finale, finished pool play 0-4 and anchored the bottom of Pool D.