Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista is “likely to play” for the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports.
Bautista, who signed a one-year, $18-million deal with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, would be joining a Dominican outfield that already includes Nelson Cruz, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Marcell Ozuna.
The Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico 2-0 to win the 2013 World Baseball Classic, but Bautista was not on the team. Former Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos refused Bautista’s participation because he underwent season-ending wrist surgery months earlier.
Bautista was on the WBC roster in 2009 when the Dominican Republic went 1-2 and did not advance to the knockout stage.