In 2023, the World Baseball Classic had one of its best years ever. With electric walk-offs, incredible pitching performances, and stellar fan bases, it feels this tournament is bringing in even more fans to the sport. While some people think the sport is dying, others would argue it is at its peak. The World Baseball Classic is the largest baseball tournament in the world and it has the same schedule as the Olympics, every four years the tournament will take place all across the world. The four locations for this year’s tournament are Miami, Houston, Tokyo, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fans have been itching for another chance to prove the world their country has the best baseball heritage, and especially Team USA.
Team USA felt weaker than usually in 2023, especially in the pitching department. They would end up losing to Team Japan in the finale, falling short.
However, in 2026, they will have one of their best rosters they have ever had. With a load lineup and lethal rotation, this is without a doubt the most talented country in the tournament. Who is on Team USA and how will they fair against other countries in 2026?
Let’s meet the Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
*All of my statistical information is from Baseball Reference. Statistics that are shown with each player are from the 2025 MLB regular season.
Team USA Starting Rotation
RHP Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 32 GS, 1.97 ERA, 7.7 WAR, 187.2 IP, 216 SO, 217 ERA+
LHP Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers) – 31 GS, 2.21 ERA, 6.5 WAR, 195.1 IP, 241 SO, 187 ERA
RHP Logan Webb (San Francisco Giants) – 34 GS, 3.22 ERA, 3.8 WAR, 207 IP, 224 SO, 124 ERA+
RHP Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins) – 30 GS, 3.42 ERA, 4.5 WAR, 171 IP, 194 SO, 125 ERA+
RHP Nolan McLean (New York Mets) – 8 GS, 2.06 ERA, 1.8 WAR, 48 IP, 57 SO, 196 ERA+
LHP Matthew Boyd (Chicago Cubs) – 31 GS, 3.21 ERA, 2.5 WAR, 179.2 IP, 154 SO, 120 ERA+
LHP Clayton Kershaw (Retired) – 22 GS, 3.36 ERA, 1.6 WAR, 112.2 IP, 84 SO, 124 ERA+
Compared to the Team USA’s starting rotation in 2023, this year is night and day better and more talented. In the last World Baseball Classic, pitchers like Merill Kelly and Adam Wainwright were frontline guys for Team USA, but now, it is a completely different story. While losing to Japan in the finale in 2023, Team USA has the two best pitchers in all of baseball, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, to lead the starting the rotation. Logan Webb and Joe Ryan have been consistently great arms for the past few seasons and should dominate against other countries. Matthew Boyd exploded onto the scene during the 2025 season and is looking to continue his great stretch, even if it is later in his career.
The most interesting name on the list is Nolan McLean, who only saw eight games of starting action in 2025. However, he displayed incredible skill and dominate play. He has become one of the best young pitchers in all of baseball, and I am excited to see it on full display in the country’s biggest stage.
Clayton Kershaw announced that he was going to retire after the 2025 season concluded, but he has still accepted the invite to Team USA. This is an awesome move as this is the first time that Clayton Kershaw has been on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. An experienced arm who is a great clubhouse presence, that is exactly what a young pitching staff needs.
Team USA Bullpen
RHP Mason Miller (San Diego Padres) – 60 G, 2.63 ERA, 2.2 WAR, 61.2 IP, 15.2 SO/9, 22 SV
RHP David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 64 G, 2.30 ERA, 2.2 WAR, 62.2 IP, 12.4 SO/9, 27 SV
RHP Brad Keller (Philadelphia Phillies) – 68 G, 2.07 ERA, 1.4 WAR, 69.2 IP, 9.7 SO/9
RHP Clay Holmes (New York Mets) – 31 GS, 3.53 ERA, 1.9 WAR, 165.2 IP, 129 SO, 114 ERA+
RHP Griffin Jax (Tampa Bay Rays) – 73 G, 4.23 ERA, 0.5 WAR, 66 IP, 13.5 SO/9
LHP Gabe Speier (Seattle Mariners) – 76 G, 2.61 ERA, 1.4 WAR, 62 IP, 11.9 SO/9
Just like the starting rotation, the bullpen is much improved from 2023. Mason Miller and David Bednar headline a bullpen that is not as strong as the starting rotation, but could definitely lock things down.
Clay Holmes could be a starter for Team USA, however, I would imagine they would prefer McLean in the rotation. Team USA could also consider the experience out of the bullpen from Holmes to be more beneficial for the bullpen.
Regardless, this is a good group and they should be able to close out games at a consistent rate.
Team USA Lineup
Catchers
C Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners) – .247/.359/.589 (.948 OPS), 60 HR, 125 RBI, 7.4 WAR, 169 OPS+
C Will Smith (Los Angeles Dodgers) – .296/.404/.497 (.901 OPS), 17 HR, 61 RBI, 4.5 WAR, 152 OPS+
Infielders
3B Alex Bregman (Chicago Cubs) – .273/.360/.462 (.821 OPS), 18 HR, 62 RBI, 3.5 WAR, 128 OPS+
INF Ernie Clement (Toronto Blue Jays) – .277/.313/.398 (.711 OPS), 9 HR, 50 RBI, 4.3 WAR, 95 OPS+
SS Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles) – .274/.349/.438 (.787 OPS), 17 HR, 68 RBI, 5.3 WAR, 121 OPS+
2B Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers) – .288/.359/.435 (.794 OPS), 18 HR, 81 RBI, 5.6 WAR, 121 OPS+
SS Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals) – .295/.351/.501 (.852 OPS), 23 HR, 88 RBI, 7.1 WAR, 136 OPS+
1B Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) – .261/.357/.487 (.844 OPS), 27 HR, 75 RBI, 3.1 WAR, 129 OPS+
Outfielders
OF Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins) – .264/.327/.551 (.878 OPS), 35 HR, 83 RBI, 4.9 WAR, 136 OPS+
OF Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks) – .259/.343/.541 (.883 OPS), 31 HR, 84 RBI, 5.8 WAR, 140 OPS+
OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs) – .247/.287/.481 (.768 OPS), 31 HR, 95 RBI, 6.0 WAR, 118 OPS+
OF Aaron Judge (New York Yankee) – .331/.457/.688 (1.144 OPS) 53 HR, 114 RBI, 9.7 WAR, 215 OPS+
Designated Hitter
DH Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) – .240/.365/.563/ (.928 OPS), 56 HR, 132 RBI, 4.7 WAR, 150 OPS+
This is one of the best lineups that Team USA has ever rostered. With almost all All-Stars and Gold-Glove award winners, this is the best team (on paper) in the entire tournament. With power bats such as Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, and Platinum Glove winners Bobby Witt Jr., Brice Turang, and Cal Raleigh, this team has the potential to walk all over any team they face.
I am not for sure how the infield will be pieced together, but I could see Bregman at third, Witt at shortstop, and then Henderson making the move to second base. I could also see Witt making the move to third, since he has big-league experience at the position, Henderson at shortstop and Turang as second base. Either way, this infield is going to be incredible defensively, and with Bryce Harper locking down first base, it is easily the best infield in all of the tournament.
There are still three remaining roster spots available, the expected positions being outfield, infield, and another bullpen arm. One player whose name has been thrown around but is still a question mark is future Hall-of-Famer Mike Trout. So far through the cycle, Trout and Trea Turner are notable names who have not been included with Team USA for the World Baseball Classic in 2026.
This is one of the best constructed rosters the World Baseball Classic has ever seen. With two of the best pitchers in the world and an incredible lineup, Team USA should be projected to win the tournament. However, Team Japan will be back with another stacked roster and should be in the finals once again.
Baseball is just right around the corner, and there is not a better way to start off the baseball season then watching your favorite players competing against each other and playing for their countries.
GO USA!
* If you are looking for more Five Out MLB Content, check out National League Central Win Totals: Over/Under Picks
