Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography
Tomas Lopez Named to Brazil's Roster for World Baseball Classic
2/5/2026 8:22:00 PM | Baseball
The junior right-hander is one of five college athletes participating in the event
NEW YORK — Columbia baseball junior Tomas Lopez has been selected to represent Brazil in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Lopez and Team Brazil open up play in Pool B of the WBC on March 6 against the United States at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros.
The right-handed pitcher made nine appearances and one start for the Lions in 2025, boasting a 2-0 record with a 0.73 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12.1 innings of work. Lopez pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a win over Penn in the Ivy League Tournament. He also tossed two shutout frames in Columbia's upset win against No. 12 Southern Miss at NCAA Regionals.
"It's a great honor to represent the country of Brazil in the WBC," said Lopez. "It's an even greater honor to do it playing the sport I love on one of the biggest stages of baseball. I'm playing for my family and for my roots. I'm truly blessed and extremely grateful for this opportunity. It's definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Lopez, whose mother was born and raised in Brazil, spent time in the country before moving to Redondo Beach, California, and graduating from Redondo Union High School in 2023. He is one of five current college athletes competing at the event, joining Czechia's Ondrej Vank (sophomore at Northeastern Junior College, Colorado), Matous Bubenik (first-year at UNC Wilmington) and Jan Pospisil (junior at North Greenville in South Carolina) and the Netherlands Justin Morales (junior at Bethune Cookman).
Brazil will also face Italy (March 7), Mexico (March 8), and Great Britain (March 9). The top two teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, held March 13-14, at Houston and loanDepot Park in Miami. The semifinals will take place from March 15-16, and the championship is slated for March 17, all in South Beach.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The right-handed pitcher made nine appearances and one start for the Lions in 2025, boasting a 2-0 record with a 0.73 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12.1 innings of work. Lopez pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a win over Penn in the Ivy League Tournament. He also tossed two shutout frames in Columbia's upset win against No. 12 Southern Miss at NCAA Regionals.
"It's a great honor to represent the country of Brazil in the WBC," said Lopez. "It's an even greater honor to do it playing the sport I love on one of the biggest stages of baseball. I'm playing for my family and for my roots. I'm truly blessed and extremely grateful for this opportunity. It's definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Lopez, whose mother was born and raised in Brazil, spent time in the country before moving to Redondo Beach, California, and graduating from Redondo Union High School in 2023. He is one of five current college athletes competing at the event, joining Czechia's Ondrej Vank (sophomore at Northeastern Junior College, Colorado), Matous Bubenik (first-year at UNC Wilmington) and Jan Pospisil (junior at North Greenville in South Carolina) and the Netherlands Justin Morales (junior at Bethune Cookman).
Brazil will also face Italy (March 7), Mexico (March 8), and Great Britain (March 9). The top two teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, held March 13-14, at Houston and loanDepot Park in Miami. The semifinals will take place from March 15-16, and the championship is slated for March 17, all in South Beach.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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