ORLANDO, FL — The Detroit Tigers are leaving the United States.The Tigers will play two exhibition games March 3-4 against Team Dominican Republic at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, announced Monday, Dec. 8, by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred at the Winter Meetings. The WBC runs from March 4-17.”When we first heard about this opportunity, it was an instant yes for us,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said. “The opportunity to go to the Dominican, play on Dominican soil and support a great cause all at the same time, it was a no-brainer for us.”WINTER MEETINGS PREVIEW: Five things to watch for Tigers in Orlando, including Tarik SkubalThe general manager of Team Dominican Republic is 19-year MLB slugger Nelson Cruz. The manager is 22-year MLB legend Albert Pujols, a three-time National League MVP and an 11-time All-Star.Team Dominican Republic won the WBC in 2013.The two exhibition games will benefit the Dominican Red Cross.Initially, the Tigers’ schedule featured an off day on March 3, a pre-WBC exhibition against Team Panama on March 4 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, and an off day on March 5.Here’s the updated schedule: The Tigers will face Team Dominican Republic on March 3-4 in Santo Domingo and Team Panama on March 4 in Lakeland, meaning the Tigers will field a split squad on March 4. A group of players will travel to Santo Domingo, and another group of players will stay back in Lakeland.”We really thank everybody involved for inviting us and allowing us to participate,” Harris said, “and it sounds like we got our work cut out for us, so we’re going to start preparing right now.”Spring training for the Tigers has increased from 29 to 31 games with the addition of the two exhibition games against Team Dominican Republic. The schedule begins from Feb. 21 with the New York Yankees in Tampa and ends March 24 with the Colorado Rockies in Scottsdale, Arizona.Opening Day is set for March 26 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego.This story will be updated.Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon during the season and Tuesday afternoon during the offseason on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers add Dominican Republic exhibition games in March 2026