A Northeastern Junior College baseball player is headed to the world stage. Ondrej Vank will pitch in the 2026 World Baseball Classic next month.
Last week the MLB Network announced the official 2026 WBC rosters and Vank, who is a right-handed pitcher for Northeastern, was selected and officially made the roster for his home country of Czech Republic.
Northeastern Junior College’s Ondrej Vank has been named to the roster for the Czech Republic team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. (Courtesy graphic)
Playing in the WBC is a big deal. With baseball not currently in the Olympics, the WBC is equivalent to the Olympics in the world of baseball, according to NJC head baseball coach Andrew Kachel.
As part of the Czechia team, Vank, who comes from Prague, will be in Pool C and will take on the Japan team, which includes Shohei Ohtan, a designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, in their bracket of pool play in the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity… and we could not be prouder or more happy for him to represent his country, as well as NJC, on the world stage!” Kachel said. “Ondrej is one of only a handful of collegiate players in the entire world to be selected, and have the opportunity to play against the MLB and world’s best baseball players!”
The Czechia team will take on South Korea on Thursday, March 5, at 5 a.m. ET followed by Australia at 10 p.m. ET. On Friday, March 6, they will play Chinese Taipei at 10 p.m. ET and on Tuesday, March 10, they will take on Japan at 6 a.m. ET. All games will be broadcast on Fox Media.
Vank has helped lead the Plainsmen to a 4-2 record so far this season. After two wins against CSU Club, 8-7 and 22-3, in the doubleheader on Saturday, Northeastern will look to continuing its winning streak when it takes on Miles Community College in two days of doubleheaders this weekend. The first pitch on Saturday is at 12 p.m. and the first game on Sunday begins 11 a.m.