Team Venezuela could use a pitcher like Jesús Luzardo potentially over its final two games in the World Baseball Classic.
But Luzardo will not be joining Venezuela, since he is focused on gearing up for Philadelphia Phillies opening day next week against the Texas Rangers.
The Phillies just locked in Luzardo to a five-year, $135 million contract extension last week. The lefty ace, who was born in Peru but whose family is from Venezuela, went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in his first season with the Phillies in 2025 after they acquired him from the Miami Marlins.
Jesús Luzardo Will Not Pitch for Venezuela in the WBC
Venezuela has a semifinal showdown with Italy, the darlings of this year’s WBC, before potentially facing mighty USA in the final Tuesday.
Luzardo had spoken about potentially heading across Alligator Alley from Clearwater, Florida to Miami if Venezuela had reached the tournament’s final four. But after the Phils locked in him last week, locking the 28-year-old potentially through 2032, Luzardo needed to commit to them as well.
“It breaks my heart not being able to be there with them, but it got kind of complicated with my situation here, having just signed a [contract] extension, trying to build up how they want me to build up here,” Luzardo told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Luzardo is set to start against the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park next Thursday in the Phillies’ home opener. So instead of potentially squaring off against the Americans, he’ll make his scheduled spring training start at Baycare Ballpark in Clearwater against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
“It’s just unfortunate I’m not going to be able to make it,” Luzardo said. “[The Phillies] just made a big commitment to me and my family, and I’m committed to them and getting ready for the season. Especially getting so close to opening day, it would have been a whirlwind.”
The Phillies Will Need Jesús Luzardo in 2026
Of course, the Phillies are still the team to beat in the National League East. They’ve won the division in consecutive years and are again loaded after re-signing Kyle Schwarber and adding slugging outfielder Adolis Garcia.
But Luzardo will need to be the Phillies ace this season since their former staff member Ranger Suarez is of course off to the Boston Red Sox. Luzardo started on fire, going 5-0 and pitching to a 1.95 ERA over his first 10 starts, before struggling from May 31-July 23.
After losing Suarez, the Phillies will be reliant on Luzardo, Cristopher Sanchez and Aaron Nola both on the mound and to mentor prospect Andrew Painter, who is likely to take Suarez’s spot in the rotation.
The 6-7, 215-pound righty is going to be a fixture in the Phils rotation for years to come but may need to acclimate to big-league hitters after a tumultuous year in Triple-A in 2025 (5-6, 5.40 ERA in 106 2/3 innings in 22 starts).
So it’s smart for Luzardo to focus on the Phillies instead of the WBC, especially since he’ll be still around to pitch for Venezuela in the next tournament in 2030.
Phillies’ $135 Million Pitcher Reveals Why He Won’t Join Venezuela in WBC