Team USA Prepares for World Baseball Classic with Dominant Wins, Judge Named Captain
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The United States national baseball team is gearing up for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) with a series of impressive warm-up victories, including a 14-4 win against the MLB Rockies on March 4th. New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge has been named captain of the team, leading a roster stacked with talent as they aim to reclaim the WBC title.
Recent Warm-Up Games Showcase Offensive Power
In the March 4th victory over the Rockies, Team USA showcased its offensive prowess, recording 14 hits. The team took an early lead with a solo home run from Aaron Judge in the first inning. While the Rockies briefly took the lead with two home runs in the fourth, Team USA responded with a two-run hit by Alex Bregman in the fifth and a five-run outburst in the sixth, highlighted by a leadoff hit from Will Smith and a timely hit from Byron Buxton, who also added a solo home run in the eighth inning.
Prior to the Rockies game, Team USA defeated the San Francisco Giants 15-1 on March 3rd, with 19 hits from 15 different players. Judge and Cal Raleigh each contributed two hits and two RBIs, while Bregman and Roman Anthony hit home runs.
Pitching Staff Bolstered by Veteran and Rising Stars
Ryan Yarbrough started against the Rockies, pitching three innings and allowing one run on two hits while striking out two batters. Veteran Clayton Kershaw, recently retired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, appeared as a relief pitcher, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in 2/3 of an inning.
In the win against the Giants, Paul Skenes pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit and recording four strikeouts.
Roster Highlights and Key Players
The 2026 Team USA roster boasts a wealth of talent, including four MVP winners: Aaron Judge (three-time AL MVP), Bryce Harper (two-time NL MVP), Paul Goldschmidt (NL MVP), and Clayton Kershaw (MVP). The pitching staff features three Cy Young Award winners: Kershaw (three-time NL Cy Young winner), Tarik Skubal (two-time Cy Young winner), and Paul Skenes (one-time Cy Young winner). The team collectively has 65 All-Star selections, 20 Silver Sluggers, and 12 Gold Gloves.
Upcoming Schedule
Team USA will begin its WBC journey against Brazil in Houston on March 6th. The final will be held in Miami on March 17th.
Team USA Roster (as of March 4, 2026)
- Captain: Aaron Judge