2026 World Baseball Classic: A Look at Participating Teams and Key Players

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to begin in March, bringing together twenty teams representing countries and independent sporting nations for a global baseball tournament. Even as some rosters boast MLB stars, others feature everyday players, offering a diverse range of talent on the international stage.

United States

The United States roster includes several top-ranked players in MLB Rank:

• Aaron Judge, OF (MLB Rank: No. 2)
• Bobby Witt Jr., SS (3)
• Tarik Skubal, SP (4)
• Paul Skenes, SP (6)
• Cal Raleigh, C (7)
• Gunnar Henderson, SS (13)
• Kyle Schwarber, DH (21)
• Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF (22)
• Logan Webb, SP (27)
• Will Smith, C (34)
• Bryce Harper, 1B (42)
• Mason Miller, RP (60)
• Alex Bregman, 3B (61)
• Byron Buxton, OF (63)
• Brice Turang, 2B (74)
• Nolan McLean, SP (100)

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic also fields a strong team with several highly-ranked players:

• Juan Soto, OF (5)
• Julio Rodriguez, OF (9)
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B (11)
• Fernando Tatis Jr., OF (14)
• Cristopher Sanchez, SP (19)
• Ketel Marte, 2B (20)
• Junior Caminero, 3B (23)
• Geraldo Perdomo, SS (32)
• Manny Machado, 3B (47)
• Jeremy Peña, SS (48)

Venezuela

Venezuela’s roster features:

• Ronald Acuña Jr., OF (10)
• William Contreras, C (28)
• Jackson Chourio, OF (45)
• Maikel Garcia, 3B (71)
• Ranger Suarez, SP (85)
• Eugenio Suarez, 3B (96)

Japan

Japan’s team includes:

• Shohei Ohtani, DH (1)
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP (17)
• Seiya Suzuki, OF (92)

Mexico

Mexico will be represented by:

• Alejandro Kirk, C (54)
• Jarren Duran, OF (67)

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s roster includes:

• Edwin Diaz, RP (73)

Great Britain

Great Britain will feature:

• Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B (78)

Netherlands

The Netherlands team includes:

• Ceddanne Rafaela, OF (88)

Canada

Canada’s roster features:

• Josh Naylor, 1B (97)

Czechia

Czechia is preparing for the tournament, having earned an automatic berth after finishing fourth in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The team is largely homegrown, with players from the Czech Baseball Extraliga and a few playing in the U.S., primarily at junior colleges. Terrin Vavra, an infielder with MLB service time with the Orioles, is on the roster. Catcher Matouš Bubenik is a freshman at UNC Wilmington. Other key players include outfielder Marek Chlup and RHP Marek Minarik.

Pool C will feature Czechia alongside Japan, Australia, Korea, and Chinese Taipei, with games taking place in Tokyo, Japan from March 5-10.