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WBC Bars Aroldis Chapman From Great Britain Roster Over Lineage Documentation

The WBC deemed his Jamaican-heritage paperwork insufficient, keeping the 2025 AL Reliever of the Year in Red Sox spring training.

Overview

  • Multiple reports, including from Francys Romero and Chris Cotillo via Talkin' Baseball, say Chapman was not approved for Great Britain’s final roster.
  • Great Britain had included the Boston closer on its preliminary list after analysts cited his Jamaican grandparents as a potential eligibility route.
  • Organizers determined the lineage evidence did not meet WBC standards, ruling out the citizenship-based path that had been discussed.
  • Chapman will remain with Boston through March rather than competing in the tournament after a dominant 2025 season that earned him AL Reliever of the Year honors.
  • The 37-year-old previously pitched for Cuba in the 2009 WBC and, after defecting, has been pursuing international options outside the Cuban team.