With a runner-up finish in 2023, Team USA is assembling a championship-caliber roster for the World Baseball Classic that starts March 4, 2026.
Roster Highlights
Team USA’s lineup features some of baseball’s biggest names. The roster is captained by New York Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge. Other marquee players include Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes, Detroit Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal, and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith.
Starting Pitchers
- Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs
- Clay Holmes, New York Mets
- Nolan McLean, New York Mets
- Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins
- Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
- Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
Relievers
- David Bednar, New York Yankees
- Garrett Cleavinger, Tampa Bay Rays
- Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays
- Mason Miller, San Diego Padres
- Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox
Catchers
- Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
- Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Infielders
- Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
- Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
- Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
- Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
Outfielders
- Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
- Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
- Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
Bednar, Schwarber, Smith and Witt Jr. are returning members from the 2023 squad.
Schedule & Venues
The opening game of the tournament is scheduled for March 4. Pool play will run from March 4 - March 11, followed by the quarterfinals on March 13 - 14, the semifinals on March 15 - 16 and the championship game on March 17.
Group stage games will be played across four cities and three countries:
- Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
- Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Daikin Park, Houston
- loanDepot Park, Miami
The quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.
Pool Structure
The WBC features 20 teams split into four pools for the opening round. Each pool is assigned to one host city for the first round.
Pool A – San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Canada
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
Pool B – Houston
- Brazil
- Great Britain
- Italy
- Mexico
- United States
Pool C – Tokyo, Japan
- Australia
- Chinese Taipei
- Czechia
- Japan
- Korea
Pool D – Miami
- Dominican Republic
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Venezuela
How the Tournament Works
The WBC opens with a round-robin where teams play one game against each of the other clubs in their pool. The top two teams from each pool advance to the knockout rounds, which are single-elimination. Teams from Pools A and B play quarterfinal games in Houston, while clubs from Pools C and D play in Miami.
Key Takeaways
- Team USA’s roster is led by Aaron Judge and includes 2025 MVP runners-up Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh.
- The 2026 Classic begins March 4 and concludes March 17, with games in Tokyo, Puerto Rico, Houston and Miami.
- The tournament format features pool play followed by single-elimination knockout rounds.
The United States is determined to turn its 2023 runner-up finish into a championship win in 2026, backed by a roster of elite MLB talent and a carefully structured schedule that spans four cities and three countries.
