The sixth version of the World Baseball Traditional will probably be performed in March 2026, three years after an exhilarating 2023 finale between USA and Japan. That, in fact, ended when Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout. It was essentially the most fascinating second of the baseball season, MLB postseason included. Hopefully we’re in for extra of the identical subsequent spring.
The WBC expanded to twenty groups final time and the highest 4 finishers within the 4 2023 swimming pools obtained an computerized berth into the 2026 WBC. These 16 groups are Australia, Canada, Cuba, Czechia, Dominican Republic, Nice Britain, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Korea, United States, and Venezuela. Brazil, Chinese language Taipei, Colombia, and Nicaragua earned the ultimate 4 berths in qualifying tournaments throughout spring coaching 2025.
The swimming pools for the 2026 WBC had been finalized in April, with the U.S. in the identical bracket as Mexico, Italy, Nice Britain, and Brazil. The event opens with Pool C (Tokyo) on March 5. Pool A (Puerto Rico), Pool B (Houston), and Pool D (Miami) start play the subsequent day. The Championship Sport is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, at loanDepot Park in Miami, the identical venue that hosted the 2023 WBC Championship Sport. Lengthy-time massive leaguer and present MLB Community analyst Mark DeRosa will return as Group USA’s supervisor.
“Getting the possibility to share the clubhouse and dugout with USA’s best workers and gamers was one of many highlights of my life,” DeRosa stated in April. “I am extraordinarily grateful and fired as much as get one other alternative to place USA throughout my chest come March.”
Japan went 7-0 and outscored their opponents 56-18 of their seven video games en path to their third WBC title in 2023 (additionally they received in 2006 and 2009). The Dominican Republic received the 2013 WBC and USA received the 2017 event. Right here now are the gamers who’ve already dedicated to suiting up for USA within the 2026 WBC. The roster is topic to alter proper up till it’s introduced formally.
Decide, the reigning two-time American League MVP, was introduced as USA’s captain and the primary participant to decide to the membership again in April. It is going to be his first time taking part in within the WBC. “I wished to be there (in 2023). I used to be wanting ahead to this chance once more,” the Yankees slugger stated, noting he skipped the 2023 WBC as a result of he had simply been named New York’s captain and wished to concentrate on that. This previous season, Decide slugged 53 residence runs and led baseball in batting common (.331), on-base proportion (.457), slugging proportion (.688), and WAR (9.7).
USA could have the reigning AL MVP within the lineup and the reigning Nationwide League Cy Younger atop the rotation. Skenes, who pitched for Air Drive earlier than transferring to LSU, dedicated to USA in Could. “If I ever get the possibility to do that, I am by no means saying no,” he stated. With all due respect to Jake Peavy and Roger Clemens, who was nearing the top of his profession in 2006, Skenes very effectively is perhaps one of the best pitcher to ever go well with up for USA within the WBC. He had a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 187 ⅔ innings this season, and joined Doc Gooden as the one pitchers in historical past to win Rookie of the 12 months one 12 months and Cy Younger the subsequent.
Bobby Baseball is returning to the WBC. Witt dedicated to USA in June and figures to their beginning shortstop this time round. He was on the 2023 roster and was used primarily as a pinch-runner, going 1 for two with a double in his 5 appearances. “It is a blast. These are the belongings you dream of,” Witt stated in regards to the 2023 WBC. Again then, he was heading into his sophomore season. This time round, Witt is a completely fashioned famous person. He authored a .295/.351/.501 slash line with 23 homers, 38 steals, and a league-leading 47 doubles in 2025. Witt completed fourth within the AL MVP voting and received his second straight Gold Glove.
USA could have a 60-homer man behind the plate subsequent spring. Raleigh set a brand new single-season residence run document for a catcher and a switch-hitter in 2025, and was the runner-up to Decide for AL MVP. It is going to be his first WBC expertise. “I am simply very honored that they might decide me and I am actually wanting ahead to hopefully making a reminiscence and successful gold,” Raleigh stated in July. He led MLB in homers (60) and RBI (125) this previous season whereas slashing .247/.359/.589 and taking part in glorious protection on the recreation’s most demanding place.
Recent off a 30-30 season, Crow-Armstrong and his Gold Glove protection will roam middle subject for USA within the WBC. His dedication to the occasion was confirmed in November. “I like taking part in for my nation greater than something,” Crow-Armstrong stated. PCA was a 6.0 WAR participant in 2025 because of high of the road protection in addition to his 31 homers and 35 steals. He joined Sammy Sosa as the one gamers in Cubs’ historical past to go 30-30 and completed ninth within the NL MVP voting.
USA’s outfield will function three All-Stars and three top-9 finishers within the MVP voting. Carroll will be a part of Crow-Armstrong and Decide on the roster, he introduced in November. “It was not a tough choice. I could not be extra excited. It’ll be superior,” Carroll stated. He led the league in triples for the third 12 months in a row in 2025, and hit .259/.343/.541 with 31 residence runs and 32 steals. It was Carroll’s first 30-30 season. He was an All-Star for the second time and he completed sixth within the NL MVP voting, his second time ending that top (fifth in 2023).
One of many recreation’s high right-handed relievers will probably be in USA’s bullpen. Whitlock introduced his dedication to USA on social media in November. It is going to be his first time taking part in within the event. After battling accidents and bouncing between the rotation and bullpen from 2022-24, Whitlock grew to become a full-time reliever in 2025 and threw 72 innings with a 2.25 ERA and 91 strikeouts. He incessantly labored a number of innings, which is able to come in useful within the early rounds of the WBC, when pitchers are held to strict pitch limits.
After battling damage and inconsistency for the primary decade of his MLB profession, Boyd busted out together with his first All-Star berth in 2025 at age 34. He introduced Wednesday on Foul Territory that he’ll be on Group USA for the WBC in 2026. Boyd returned from Tommy John surgical procedure in 2024 with the Guardians and pitched to a 2.72 ERA in eight begins. It was ok to earn a two-year, $29 million cope with an choice for 2027 from the Cubs. In 2025, he went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 179 ⅔ innings. Upon his announcement, Boyd grew to become the primary left-handed pitcher on Group USA for this cycle and it appears fairly probably he’ll be within the rotation for the occasion.
Schwarber, one of many recreation’s most efficient hitters, hasn’t but chosen which crew he’ll go well with up for throughout the coming common season. He has, nonetheless, declared that he’ll play for Group USA within the World Baseball Traditional. Schwarber has averaged a 135 OPS+ with 47 residence runs per season during the last three years.
Smith, recent off successful a second World Collection title in a row, will probably be within the squat for Group USA as he pursues a world championship so as to add to his assortment. Smith has developed into among the finest backstops in baseball and over the previous three seasons has amassed a 125 OPS+ and 12 Wins Above Alternative.
Henderson will probably be making his first WBC look after blossoming right into a star with the Orioles lately. Over the course of his first 4 seasons within the majors, he is compiled a 134 OPS+ and greater than 21 Wins Above Alternative. His expertise at shortstop and third base may come in useful, relying on the remainder of the roster.
Turang is recent off a breakout season with the Brewers that noticed him publish new profession highs in residence runs (18) and WAR (5.6). He is a high-quality defender able to stealing a base as effectively, giving him a broad base of abilities.
One of many recreation’s extra underrated relievers, Cleavinger figures to be DeRosa’s go-to lefty within the WBC. He threw 61 ⅓ innings with a 2.35 ERA in 2025, and struck out 33.7% of the batters he confronted. That was a top-15 mark amongst relievers, and fourth highest amongst lefties. Cleavinger held same-side hitters to a .187 batting common and .274 on-base proportion this previous season, his sixth within the majors and fourth with Tampa.
