On Friday, the rosters for the 2026 World Baseball Classic were unveiled, showcasing impressive talent from 20 countries. Defending champions Team Japan will face tough competition from a strong Team USA and the Dominican Republic. The tournament kicks off on March 5, with finals scheduled for March 17.
Looking at Team USA’s lineup, I have to say they’re my top pick. They were finalists in the last WBC, and their roster seems even stronger this time. A key difference is the pitching; many top pitchers opted out last time, but this year, notable names are on board.
Previously, Team USA’s starting rotation featured players like Miles Mikolas, Nick Martinez, and the seasoned Adam Wainwright. This time, the team includes the 2025 Cy Young Award winners, Tariq Skubal and Paul Skeens.
The lineup boasts stars like Aaron Judge, Cal Lowry, and Bobby Witt Jr. There’s an argument to be made that the Dominican Republic’s roster is equally impressive—maybe even slightly better. Still, I believe Team USA has a more complete team overall.
Key Contenders: Dominican Republic, Japan, Venezuela
In all likelihood, the Dominican Republic or Japan will be the second-best team in the tournament. I lean towards the Dominicans, given their powerhouse lineup featuring Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado.
One disadvantage for the Dominican Republic is the catcher position. Austin Wells was scouted for the role, but the nation hasn’t historically developed catchers as effectively as the U.S. or Venezuela. Last year, their catchers were Gary Sanchez and Francisco Mejia, and Wells aims to elevate that position.
The Dominican Republic’s rotation is formidable, led by Sandy Alcantara and Christopher Sanchez, with a solid bullpen featuring Abner Uribe, Camilo Doval, and Carlos Estevez. They will be a formidable opponent as always.
Now, shifting to the defending champions, Team Japan—led by the incredible Shohei Ohtani, who, admittedly, won’t be pitching this time despite his key save in the last final. Also absent will be Aki Sasaki.
Japan will still field a powerful pitching roster, with World Series veteran Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the ace, supported by Yusei Yuguchi and other elite NPB players.
The roster is packed with MLB talent. Besides Ohtani, they also bring in recent free agent signings Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. Cubs star Seiya Suzuki missed the last WBC, but he’ll be a part of the team now. Historically, Samurai Japan performs well in these tournaments, so they shouldn’t be underestimated.
The Venezuelan team, with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Salvador Perez at the helm, is solid too. They have ample talent, particularly behind the plate, with Perez and the Contreras brothers on board.
In the outfield, Acuña, Jackson Chorio, and Wylya Abreu create a formidable trio, showcasing a diverse mix of skills—Luis Arraez and Eugenio Suarez are quite different as hitters but both effective in their own rights.
Let’s not forget the pitching, with ace Pablo López and Ranger Suarez leading the way. While they may not have the depth of other top teams, their lineup has plenty of big-league experience.
Possible Dark Horses: Italy, Israel, Puerto Rico, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Netherlands
These teams might not be expected to make it to the finals, but they have enough talent to shake things up. Sure, they may not compete on the same level as the leading contenders, yet major league experience is present across the board.
Puerto Rico could have found itself in the second-tier if not for some unfortunate insurance issues. A lack of coverage meant several star players like Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javier Báez won’t be participating.
Still, Puerto Rico features talent. They’ve added Nolan Arenado to bolster the roster and will include other big players like Heriot Ramos and Edwin Diaz. Nonetheless, they simply won’t be as competitive as usual.
Italy is another intriguing team. Many American-born MLB players with Italian heritage are in the mix, including Aaron Nola, Vinny Pasquantino, and Jack Carianone. Their roster is laced with significant talent, and top Angels prospect Sam Aldeguerri is making his MLB debut. This team could surprise some and might just spoil a few plans.
Israel has a similar potential, though I feel their talent levels don’t quite measure up to Italy. Their standout is likely Harrison Bader, who had a great season just last year. The lineup includes notable names like Spencer Horowitz and Garrett Stubbs.
Dean Kramer from the Orioles heads their rotation, and Israel finds itself in a tough group alongside the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and the Netherlands.
Speaking of the Netherlands, they boast a solid lineup. Curaçao has produced many noteworthy MLB players, like Xander Bogaerts, Jurickson Profar, Ozzie Albies, and Kenley Jansen. They also feature young talent and former major leaguers. Drew Jones, a Hall of Famer and son of Dutch manager Andreu Jones, is part of the team alongside former MLB players like Didi Gregorius.
South Korea also comes with strong players, led by Jung Hoo Lee. Other significant names are Ryu Hyun Jin and Kim Hee Sun, along with a few Korean-American skilled athletes like Jamai Jones, Dane Dunning, and Riley O’Brien.
Canada, meanwhile, lacks a true star but has solid options. Notably, Freddie Freeman won’t compete this year, though Josh Naylor and Tyler O’Neal can form a potent middle lineup. Denzel Clark shines as a top center field defender, and on the mound, Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka will lend their skills.
Lastly, Mexico is worth mentioning, with a strong group led by Jalen Duran, Alejandro Kirk, Jonathan Aranda, and Randy Arozelena. Their bullpen has elite closer Andrés Muñoz as well as quality setup men Robert Garcia and Victor Vodnyk. The rotation will feature Taj Bradley and Javier Assad.
The Scrappy Teams: Taipei, Colombia, England, Cuba, Panama
While these teams might lack the star power of others, they shouldn’t be taken lightly. If not properly prepared, they can surprise stronger opponents.
Cuba, unfortunately, has many of its top players missing. This is quite common, given the drastic measures needed for these players to pursue MLB careers. Nonetheless, they still showcase some talent, with Yoan Moncada as a standout. Interestingly, 44-year-old Alexei Ramirez, last seen in the majors in 2016, is on this roster.
Colombia sometimes comes across as the strongest among this group. I didn’t expect them to pack such a punch—Elias Diaz and Gio Urshela, both MLB veterans, will play. Keep an eye on Mariners prospect Michael Arroyo, along with José Quintana and former prospect Luis Patino on the mound.
Great Britain boasts Jazz Chisholm as its best talent. Other major leaguers like Harry Ford and Nate Eaton also join the squad. Michael Peterson, an impressive relief pitcher, has experience in several major leagues and will represent the UK, alongside interesting prospects like Gary Gil Hill and Brendan Beck.
Panama may surprise with talent, particularly at catcher, featuring Ivan Herrera and Miguel Amaya. Their infield has major leaguers like Edmundo Sosa and Jose Caballero, and their top arm is American-born Logan Allen.
The final team in this tier is Taipei. They possess solid talent and a tendency to overachieve. This tournament holds significant weight for many Asian nations. The roster includes promising hitters like Haoyo Lee and Tsungche Chen, along with American newcomers Stuart Fairchild and Jonathan Long. D-backs prospect Yuming Lin stands out on the mound.
Grateful to Compete: Brazil, Australia, Czech Republic, Nicaragua
The teams in this group may not feature any MLB players, likely hindering their chances of advancing past the group stage. Yet, for those involved, it’s an invaluable experience.
Nicaragua is somewhat balanced, possessing numerous MLB players. Star Mark Vientos from the Mets will be a significant addition, along with former major leaguers Jeter Downs and Chesler Cuthbert. Their prospects Carlos Rodriguez and Erasmo Ramirez provide additional depth on the mound.
Australia also has a few notable names, particularly at the plate. Stars Curtis Meade (White Sox) and former top pick Travis Bazana will be key hitters. The mound depth isn’t great, but these two might ignite the Australian offense.
Brazil lacks active MLB players but features several former big leaguers and promising prospects. A captivating story is that of 17-year-old Joseph Contreras, son of major leaguer Jose Contreras. He’s touted as a potential first-round draft pick for 2026 and currently finishes high school.
Lastly, the Czech Republic offers the least MLB experience in this group. While they lacked major league talent, it was uplifting to see how much enjoyment they had during the last event. Interestingly, they bring a player with MLB experience this year, Terin Vavra. The Czechs have been around for a while but are still relative newcomers in the baseball world.
