HOUSTON – The United States defeated Brazil 15-5 on Friday at Daikin Park in Houston, in the first Group B matchup of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Despite the loss, Brazil saw a standout performance from young outfielder Lucas Ramírez, who made history with a pair of home runs.
World Baseball Classic 2026
Group A (San Juan) presented by Discover Puerto Rico
Group B (Houston) and Group D (Miami) presented by Capital One
Ramírez, batting leadoff for Brazil, launched a home run against San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb in the first inning. The blast left the bat at 104.1 mph and traveled 392 feet, making Ramírez just the tenth player in World Baseball Classic history to lead off a game with a home run.
He wasn’t done there. In the eighth inning, Ramírez went deep again, hitting another home run – this one at 106.3 mph and 354 feet – off Seattle Mariners reliever Gabe Speier.
At just 20 years old, Ramírez is the third-youngest player to hit a home run in the Classic.
“It was something big,” Ramírez said. “I have to offer the glory to God. It’s all the preparation during the winter. It brought me to where I wanted to be. It was something big.”
Currently in the Los Angeles Angels’ minor league system, Ramírez is playing for the Brazilian national team because of his mother, Juliana, who is from Brazil. He was instrumental in Brazil qualifying for the tournament, batting .385 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs in three games at the qualifying tournament in Tucson, Arizona, a year ago, helping Brazil reach the World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2013.
Ramírez also became the youngest player to hit multiple home runs in a single game in the Classic, breaking the previous record held by Puerto Rico’s Francisco Lindor (23 years old, in 2017).
“What we have is the best day of my life, to be honest,” Ramírez expressed. “Thank God, two bombs today.”
