Venezuela missing José Altuve at the 2026 World Baseball Classic would not be catastrophic, according to Fernando Arreaza Ortega, who believes former New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres could help fill the infield void left by the veteran World Series champion.
“Certainly, Venezuela’s WBC roster is better with José Altuve on it. But if Brian McTaggart’s report about his absence is confirmed, there are several alternatives. The most straightforward one: Gleyber Torres at second base,” Arreaza wrote on X.
Of course, those would not be the only options for Venezuela, which remains one of the top favorites to contend at the World Baseball Classic. Arreaza also went as far as naming a World Series champion with the Dodgers, along with Luis Arráez, as players who could help soften the impact of Altuve’s absence.
Players who could help Venezuela at the WBC
Even without Altuve, Venezuela still has experienced options, in some cases with as much or even more experience than the Astros star himself. One of them is Miguel Rojas, who recently won a World Series and could provide exactly what the team needs with his leadership and veteran presence.
“There’s also Maikel García and his versatility. Another option would be Andrés Giménez at second base with Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop. Names like Miguel Rojas, Luis Arráez, and even players from the LVBP come into play. Even with this loss and others that could happen, Venezuelan baseball fortunately has depth. Altuve is a key pillar — his absence would be a significant blow — but there are ways to replace him,” Arreaza wrote when discussing the available options.
Whether Altuve plays or not does not leave Venezuela weakened. Instead, it could open the door for younger players to seize the opportunity at the 2026 World Baseball Classic and showcase themselves, potentially accelerating their path to the major leagues, especially if the team turns to a non-MLB player.