Is Rays' Yandy Diaz playing in the World Baseball Classic?

9-year veteran Yandy Diaz has made a name for himself in recent seasons with the Rays as he's become one of the most consistent offensive presences in the MLB. As a contact-first infielder, Diaz has maintained a batting average hovering around .300 since 2022 with his best campaign displaying a league-leading .330 batting average. With all this said, the 34-year-old athlete doesn't prefer to be in the spotlight as he keeps his private life pretty secret. This is a fair attribute for the Cuban native, but is it the only reason why he's not performing in the World Baseball Classic?

Rays' Yandy Diaz turn down opportunity to represent Cuba in World Baseball Classic

When the Cuban national team began their recruiting process, Yandy Diaz must've been on the top of their list as his bat would've been very impactful against opposing nations. However, the Rays' designated hitter has elected to stay away from the renowned tournament and focus his efforts on spring training and the upcoming MLB season.

And Diaz is not the only Cuban-born player to reject this offer. Former White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and journeyman closer Aroldis Chapman have also taken the high road when it comes to playing for their native country. Former Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena is also a native of the island of Cuba, but he chose to oppose the controversial country in a different fashion. Arozarena chose to play for Team Mexico after becoming a resident of the Central American country before his ascension to the major leagues. The 30-year-old talent took the world by storm as a member of the Mexican club which likely further irritated fans of the Cuban national team.

Unlike his former teammate, Yandy Diaz has never desired to play in the World Baseball Classic as he doesn't have the option of representing another nation. Due to the turmoil of Cuban politics, this will remain an issue for a very long time and it's unfortunate to miss on incredible talents like Diaz and Chapman is such a highly anticipated event. Recently, multiple Puerto Rican players were forced to exit the tournament as well due to a problem regarding the insurance in their MLB contracts. Nevertheless, the WBC will be a thrilling stage for many star players for years to come.