MIAMI – Two baseball legends, representing the United States and Venezuela, took to the field for ceremonial first pitches ahead of the Clásico Mundial de Béisbol 2026 final between the two nations.
Ken Griffey Jr., one of the most iconic figures in American baseball history – renowned for his distinctive swing – had the honor of throwing the ceremonial pitch for Team USA.
Clásico Mundial de Béisbol 2026
Grupo A (San Juan) presentado por Discover Puerto Rico
Grupo B (Houston) y Grupo D (Miami) presentado por Capital One
Griffey, a Hall of Famer inducted in 2016, enjoyed a stellar 22-year Major League Baseball career, amassing 630 home runs, 2,781 hits, and a .284 batting average. He also made a significant impact in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic.
In just six games during the 2006 tournament, Griffey hit .524 with three home runs and 10 RBIs, posting an impressive .583 on-base percentage and a 1.631 OPS. His performance helped establish the Classic as a premier international baseball event.
Representing Venezuela was Miguel Cabrera, currently serving as his country’s hitting coach, who also threw the ceremonial first pitch.
Cabrera is widely expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2029, following a brilliant 21-year MLB career that concluded at the end of the 2023 season.
The 2012 Triple Crown winner also holds a special place in Classic history, becoming the first player to participate in five editions of the tournament, appearing in the first five Classics held.
He was later joined by Alfredo Despaigne of Cuba and Shairon Martis of the Netherlands in reaching that milestone in 2026.
Throughout a total of 25 World Baseball Classic games, Cabrera batted .237 with six home runs and 15 RBIs, with his Venezuelan team reaching the semifinals in 2009.
