U.S. Action in Venezuela Disrupts Pro League, MLB Players, and WBC Plans

The U.S. military action in Venezuela, and the removal of that country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, on drug and weapons charges, is creating turmoil across much of the Latin American baseball scene.

Maduro’s removal in the early hours of Saturday morning—and a subsequent assertion by U.S. President Donald Trump that he and his staff will “run” Venezuela until a democratic transition of power happens—has left many sports officials and athletes in and around the country unsure of their next steps. 

Among the current and unresolved issues:

• Venezuela’s pro baseball league, Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, suspended playoff games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, but said Sunday afternoon that play will resume on Wednesday. 
• In the meantime, several MLB players who have been playing this winter in Venezuela, including rising Brewers star Jackson Chourio, are now in a mix of situations. Some players have been able to contact their MLB clubs and inform them of their status, while some have not. The pool of players competing this offseason in Venezuela also includes a group of minor leaguers in MLB systems. 
• Commercial air travel in and out of the country has also been heavily reduced. It’s possible that ongoing travel issues, if they continue, could complicate the arrival of some players for MLB spring training early next month.
• The status of the Venezuelan team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic is not certain. That star-laden club is captained by Royals catcher Salvador Perez, top talents such as the Astros’ Jose Altuve and the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. have been expected to return to the roster, and the squad has been expected to be a serious competitor to tournament favorites Japan and the U.S. MLB declined comment on the team’s WBC status when contacted by Front Office Sports. The competition is scheduled to start March 5. 

Already, the Caribbean Series, set to begin early next month, was moved last month from Caracas to Guadalajara, Mexico, after pro leagues in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico expressed safety and logistical concerns about being in Venezuela amid the rising geopolitical tensions. Those tensions are certain to continue as the U.S. military action has been widely criticized for an alleged lack of adherence to domestic and international law. 

Venezuela consistently has been one of the largest international sources of talent to MLB. In 2025, the country was No. 3 among birth countries for players in the league behind the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.