Fax Islands Roster Preview: 2026 Cancun World Classic

CANCUN - The Fax Islands are officially locked in for the 2026 Cancún World Classic, and—unsurprisingly—this roster feels less like a national team and more like a fever dream cooked up at 3 a.m. with league sources, burner phones, and absolutely zero shame.

The Fax Islands will open tournament play in Group D, squaring off against Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Greenland, and Myanmar, with group play beginning March 6 in Sarajevo, Bosnia. It’s a brutal group. It’s a weird group. And it’s exactly the kind of environment the Fax Islands thrive in.

Below is a full breakdown of the roster heading into March.

Josh Reddick is built to hit dingers, and take 'em away from opposing teams.

Starting Lineup

Manager Dusty Baker isn't playing around.

Batting Order

1. Wheelchair Wonder (RF)

2. Josh Reddick (CF)

3. Juan Soda (LF)

4. Marc Olsen (1B)

5. Frank Fleming (3B)

6. Joc Pederson (DH)

7. Carl Ripken Jr (SS)

8. Martin Maldonado (C)

9. Ozzie Albies (2B)

Let’s start at the top, because you can’t not.

Wheelchair Wonder—confirmed to be Ronald Acuña Jr.—is leading off after setting Cancún Playoffs records for hits, RBIs, and runs scored while playing in a wheelchair. Defensive range is obviously limited, but Dusty Baker is betting that gravity, physics, and basic logic will once again lose this argument.

Behind him is defensive superstar Josh Reddick, who somehow looks even cooler in international play, rocking his trademark cowboy hat and aviator shades. Sources describe his energy as “borderline threatening,” which feels ideal when opening a global tournament. Reddick told Fax Sports this week:

“North Japan talks a lot for a team that’s never seen us. And Eric Sim? Buddy's harmless. He'll be stuffing his face with tacos while I'm making Golden Taco web gems.”

Juan Soda remains the lineup’s chaos engine—elite bat speed, impeccable Mesting, unmatched confidence. Marc Olsen, the team captain, anchors the middle of the order. Olsen kept it short when asked about expectations:

“Freddie never did that. I’m here to win.”

The lower half of the lineup leans gritty. Frank "The Tank" Fleming brings raw power and emotional volatility. Joc Pederson is here to hit baseballs extremely far and not apologize. Carl Ripken Jr. provides steady defense, Martin Maldonado handles the pitching staff like a union foreman, and Ozzie Albies rounds things out with speed and switch-hitting pop.

Weaknesses? Strikeouts and range. Strengths? Literally everything else, including vibes.

Paul Skenes headlines a stacked Fax Islands rotation.

Pitching Rotation

Pitching coach Greg Maddux built a starting five loaded with talent.

Rotation

1. Paul Skenes

2. Justin Verlander

3. Spencer Strider

4. Framber Valdez

5. Freddy Peralta

This rotation is absurd, and Maddux knows it.

Paul Skenes at the top gives the Fax Islands an automatic tone-setter—velocity, intimidation, and the confidence of someone who goes home to Livvy Dunne every night. Justin Verlander brings experience and the ability to throw 87 mph while looking bored. Spencer Strider is pure chaos energy with elite swing-and-miss stuff, though pitch counts may become an issue.

Framber Valdez gives the staff a ground-ball machine who can keep his catcher in check when he needs to. Freddy Peralta rounds it out with deception and strikeout upside, though walks could haunt him against patient lineups.

Weakness? Health and workload management. Strength? Good luck scoring more than three runs.

Hawk Tuah made a name for herself leading the Mest to the 2025 Cancun World Series.

Bullpen

The Fax Islands bullpen is built for stress.

Relief Pitchers

• Jesse Chavez

• Orion Kerkering

• Tim Hill

• Edwin Díaz

Closer

• Hawk Tuah

Edwin Díaz headlines the late innings with elite stuff and pure unpredictability. Jesse Chavez is the human reset button—he just shows up, throws strikes, and leaves. Tim Hill gives hitters a look they hate, while Orion Kerkering brings youth and late-game Mesting.

Then there’s Hawk Tuah, the closer. Not much needs to be said here other than this: if the Fax Islands have a lead in the ninth, social media should probably log off. Her signature spitball is literally unhittable.

Weakness? Volatility. Strength? Maximum entertainment.

The Cruz brothers give Fax Islands speed, power and defense off the bench.

Bench Players

This bench is unfair.

• Elly De La Cruz

• Chipper Jones

• Andy Pages

• Oneil Cruz

• Zach Neto

  
  

Elly De La Cruz can change a game in one pitch. Chipper Jones is here purely for the Hooters chicken wings. Andy Pages offers broken bats, Oneil Cruz, younger brother to Elly, provides left-side flexibility and moonshot potential, and Zach Neto brings defense and energy late in games.

The only real weakness is deciding who doesn’t play.

Final Thoughts on Fax Islands in the Cancun World Classic

This Fax Islands roster is loud, chaotic, unbalanced, and absolutely built for the Cancún World Classic. It will confuse opponents, enrage purists, and dominate timelines.

Leave a comment and tell us who you’re most excited to watch—or who you think gets exposed first.

And remember: every game of the Cancún World Classic streams live on FAX Sports+ and the FAX app.

March is coming. Sarajevo is ready. The Fax Islands are not here to be polite.