It’s not very hard to search for a link between the Texas Rangers and the country of Mexico.

Globe Life Field is located just about 15 hours, or 1,389 kilometers, from the Texas/Mexico border.

For that reason, many Rangers fans also cheer for the Mexican national teams in just about every sport. In fact, the widely popular Mexican national soccer team often plays matches just across the street from Globe Life Field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Those same supporters will no doubt carry their enthusiasm to baseball when Team Mexico takes the field in the World Baseball Classic later this week.

During the 2023 edition of the WBCC, Mexico had its best run in the five-tournament history of the World Baseball Classic.

Mexico made it all the way to the semifinals, beating Team USA in the group stage and Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals along the way.

The record-breaking tournament came to a heartbreaking end for Mexico in the semifinals as they fell to eventual champion Team Japan on a Munetaka Murakami walk-off double.

Flash forward three years and Mexico will look to build off that record-breaking run while also featuring some local help doing it.

Rangers reliever Robert Garcia and outfielder Alejandro Osuna will both suit up for the Mexican national team for the first time in their careers.

Beginning this Friday, Mexico will play in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic with games being held in Houston at Minute Maid Park.

The United States is also in the same group as Mexico, and the top two teams will move on to quarterfinal play.

Mexico will begin play with a contest against Great Britain on Friday, followed by a game against Brazil on Sunday, before their big showdown with the U.S. next Monday and their final game of group play next Wednesday against Team Italy.

For Garcia and Osuna, the games will be an opportunity to not only play for their country but impress the Rangers while they’re at it.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker has noted that the club will no doubt keep tabs on and check in with its players participating in the World Baseball Classic.

Additionally, it will give guys the chance to get innings and at-bats in leverage situations that they would not have gotten otherwise in Spring Training.

For someone like Osuna, who is fighting for a spot on the Rangers bench, a solid showing in the tournament against top competition will no doubt turn heads within the organization.

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