The sixth version of the World Baseball Traditional might 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 probably the most charming 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 automated 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 match opens with Pool C (Tokyo) on March 5. Pool A (Puerto Rico), Pool B (Houston), and Pool D (Miami) start play the following 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 large 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 mentioned 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 gained in 2006 and 2009). The Dominican Republic gained the 2013 WBC and USA gained the 2017 match. 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 enjoying within the WBC. “I needed to be there (in 2023). I used to be trying ahead to this chance once more,” the Yankees slugger mentioned, noting he skipped the 2023 WBC as a result of he had simply been named New York’s captain and needed to concentrate on that. This previous season, Decide slugged 53 dwelling runs and led baseball in batting common (.331), on-base share (.457), slugging share (.688), and WAR (9.7).
USA can 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 mentioned. With all due respect to Jake Peavy and Roger Clemens, who was nearing the top of his profession in 2006, Skenes very effectively could be the very best pitcher to ever swimsuit 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 Yr one yr and Cy Younger the following.
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 stuff you dream of,” Witt mentioned concerning 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 gained his second straight Gold Glove.
USA can have a 60-homer man behind the plate subsequent spring. Raleigh set a brand new single-season dwelling run report 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’d choose me and I am actually trying ahead to hopefully making a reminiscence and successful gold,” Raleigh mentioned in July. He led MLB in homers (60) and RBI (125) this previous season whereas slashing .247/.359/.589 and enjoying glorious protection on the recreation’s most demanding place.
Contemporary off a 30-30 season, Crow-Armstrong and his Gold Glove protection will roam heart area for USA within the WBC. His dedication to the occasion was confirmed in November. “I really like enjoying for my nation greater than something,” Crow-Armstrong mentioned. PCA was a 6.0 WAR participant in 2025 due to prime 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 part of Crow-Armstrong and Decide on the roster, he introduced in November. “It was not a tough resolution. I could not be extra excited. It’ll be superior,” Carroll mentioned. He led the league in triples for the third yr in a row in 2025, and hit .259/.343/.541 with 31 dwelling 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 prime right-handed relievers might be in USA’s bullpen. Whitlock introduced his dedication to USA on social media in November. It is going to be his first time enjoying within the match. 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 steadily labored a number of innings, which can come in useful within the early rounds of the WBC, when pitchers are held to strict pitch limits.
After battling harm and inconsistency for the primary decade of his MLB profession, Boyd busted out along 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 adequate 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 doubtless he’ll be within the rotation for the occasion.
Schwarber, one of many recreation’s most efficient hitters, hasn’t but chosen which group he’ll swimsuit 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 dwelling runs per season during the last three years.
Smith, contemporary off successful a second World Sequence title in a row, might be within the squat for Group USA as he pursues a global championship so as to add to his assortment. Smith has developed into top-of-the-line backstops in baseball and over the previous three seasons has amassed a 125 OPS+ and 12 Wins Above Alternative.
Henderson might be making his first WBC look after blossoming right into a star with the Orioles in recent times. 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 contemporary off a breakout season with the Brewers that noticed him publish new profession highs in dwelling 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 expertise. Turang might be a weapon for USA no matter whether or not he begins at second base, or comes off the bench to pinch-hit/pinch-run.
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 share this previous season, his sixth within the majors and fourth with Tampa.
Jax, some of the wanted relievers on the 2025 commerce deadline, might be a part of USA’s bullpen within the WBC. The previous Twin/present Ray had an ugly 4.23 ERA this previous season, although his underlying numbers are off the charts good. Jax’s 35.0% strikeout fee and 18.1% swinging strike fee are among the many best in baseball due to a monster sweeper and upper-90s fastball. Few pitchers are nearly as good at lacking bats as Jax.
USA’s rotation will embrace a main candidate for 2026 NL Rookie of the Yr. McLean made his MLB debut with the Mets this previous August and dazzled down the stretch, pitching to a 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 48 innings. His deep six-pitch arsenal, which features a mid-90s sinker and big-breaking sweeper, provides McLean the second-best pure stuff on USA’s workers behind Skenes.
Holmes, McLean’s rotation mate in Queens, can even be on USA’s roster. He made the transition from reliever to starter in 2025 and issues went effectively: 3.53 ERA in 165 ⅔ innings. Given his expertise as a reliever and talent to pitch a number of innings as a starter, Holmes would make for an attention-grabbing multi-inning aid weapon within the WBC, significantly when pitchers are held to strict pitch limits within the early rounds.
A prime commerce candidate this offseason, it is not clear if Ryan might be camp with the Twins or a unique group within the spring, however he might be on USA’s roster. The 29 yr outdated had a 3.42 ERA in 171 innings in 2025 and was dominant within the first half earlier than fading a bit down the stretch. He provides DeRosa and Group USA a worthy No. 2 behind Skenes within the rotation.
