Team USA Roster Outlook 2026

Team USA's Roster Has been Relesed -- Some Notes on the Roster and a Breakdown of Each Player

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Team USA's World Baseball Classic Roster is set to be one of the best rosters in the tournament. Team USA looks to recapture the crown, last held in 2017, with a roster full of stars. Let's break down Team USA's Roster.

Team USA's Starting Rotation

Last time around, Team USA's Statting Rotation was their Achilles heel. This time, they are not playing around.

Tarik Skubal -- The Two-Time Cy Young winner will pitch for Team USA for the first time. Skubal has been dominant in both the regular and postseason in his career thus far, and should translate well to Team USA.

Paul Skenes -- The lefty Ace and reigning NL Cy Young recipient will pitch for Team USA for the first time as well. This will be the first time Skenes is pitching in a high-pressure environment for games that matter. This should give him some experience heading into a season where his Pirates are looking to compete.

Logan Webb -- The Giants ace will provide a stable force for Team USA in the middle of their rotation. It's also his first time pitching in the tournament.

Matthew Boyd -- The Cubs starter will help at the back end of Team USA's rotation. Boyd has risen to the occasion to the postseason so far in his career, pitching to a 1.66 era, something Team USA can use.

Joe Ryan -- The Right-Hander from the Twins will also pitch for Team USA for the first time. Ryan is one of the best number five starters that any team can offer, given that he is the number one for the Twins during the season.

Team USA's Bullpen

Team USA can put their bullpen up with the best of them this time around.

David Bednar -- The Yankees' lockdown closer will bring "Renegade" to the WBC. He pitched for Team USA in 2023 and posted a 2.25 ERA. Having a lockdown closer should help Team USA stabilize its pitching plans and shorten games.

Mason Miller -- The Padres closer is one of the best relievers in baseball. Miller will likely get the eighth inning to set up for Bednar. Having that punch at the back end will make it easier to win games.

Garrett Cleavinger -- The Rays' lefty will be essential to the backend of Team USA's bullpen. With the starters not fully stretched out, shortening the game is key. Cleavinger will be the key lefty out of the bullpen.

Clay Holmes -- The former reliever turned starter will return to the 'pen for Team USA. Holmes struggled for the Yankees in the ninth inning throughout his tenure, but was fine in a set-up role in 2024. His effectiveness will be essential to the success of Team USA.

Nolan McLean -- Holmes' teammate will pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. I get the feeling that it does not matter what role McLean pitches in, he will be just as nasty. With his strikeout ability, McLean should be able to thrive in any role and make the best of batters look foolish.

Griffin Jax -- Another Rays Lefty that has high-leverage experience. His offspeed pitches generate strikeouts, and he is capable of getting big outs in big spots.

Brad Keller -- A breakout arm with the Cubs, now Phillies, Keller provides efficiency and effectiveness in the bullpen, capable of getting weak contact and outs when needed.

Garrett Whitlock -- One of the best relievers in the AL will have a big part in the bullpen for Team USA. Whitlock could use the experience, as he has struggled a bit in the postseason in his career, so pitching in an environment like this should benefit the Red Sox.

Gabe Speier -- The left-hander has been a model of consistancy throught his career. He has experience pitching in big moments and high leverage, and has thrived. Team USA will reap the benefits of his "clutch gene".

Michael Wacha -- The veteran right-hander will be pitching in the WBC for the first time. His role is an important one -- eat innings. Wacha is past his prime, but is still effective when needed and has always risen to the occasion when the moment mattered.

Clayton Kershaw -- This will be the last time the future Hall of Famer takes the mound in a big spot. Coming off his third championship, Kershaw has experience in big spots, even if the results are not the best.

Team USA's Lineup

This is not in order of what Team USA's Lineup could be, but goes by position (starting with the outfield).

RF Aaron Judge -- Captain America will provide very good defense and power for Team USA. It's Judge's first time playing in the WBC. He has had both high and low moments in the postseason in his career, but playing in the WBC should help him.

CF Byron Buxton -- This will be the first time the two-time All-Star plays for the WBC. Buxton still has some life in that bat, but is an elite defender in center field.

LF Corbin Carroll -- One of the essential parts of the Diamondbacks lineup, Carroll will be a big part of the lineup for Team USA.

3B Alex Bregman -- The new Cub who has played in the postseason every year of his career will now represent Team USA for the first time. Bregman brings veteran leadership and proven experience to Team USA.

SS Bobby Witt Jr. -- The first returner for the position players to Team USA, Witt has turned into an MVP runner-up and an all-star since he last played for Team USA. Pair that with his defense at shortstop, and Team USA has another superstar on their roster.

2B Gunner Henderson -- The former Rookie of the Year will man second base for Team USA. With some postseason experience in his career, it will help his development to get more high-leverage at-bats under his belt.

1B Bryce Harper -- The veteran first baseman is back playing for Team USA. Harper is a leader and is still a very good player on both sides of the ball. The intensity he brings is something Team USA will love.

C Cal Raleigh -- The backstop will play for Team USA for the first time. The 2025 MVP runner-up hit 60 home runs and will provide platinum defense behind the plate and big-time power at the plate.

DH Kyle Schwarber -- Schwarber-Bombs are back for Team USA. The veteran DH played for Team USA in 2023 and will now return. Schwarber is a constant long-ball threat, and that should lead to a lot of scoring opportunities for USA.

Team USA's Bench

The key to any championship roster is a deep bench. This year, Team USA has that.

1B Paul Goldschmidt -- The veteran first baseman will provide Team USA with the same thing he does for the Yankees -- a solid glove at first base and a lefty masher to come off the bench. This will be Goldschmidt's third time playing in the WBC.

C Will Smith -- The Dodgers backstop will be the backup to Raligh in his second WBC appearance. He has a ton of experience in high-leverage situations and in the playoffs, which will benefit Team USA.

INF Ernie Clement -- Team USA’s utility man has a flair for the dramatic, as we all learned through the course of the 2025 postseason. Clement will be a weapon off the bench.

OF Pete Crow-Armstrong -- PCA will play in his first WBC. PCA is a great defender and will provide late-game speed and defense for Team USA.

2B Bryce Turang -- The Brewers' second baseman will play for the WBC for the first time. Turang will provide Team USA with some pop and solid defense off the bench.

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This is all a long way of saying Team USA is going to be really good. Their roster is deep. They have role players to play special roles in big spots, and of course, the two reigning Cy Young winners and AL MVP, with his runner-up. The Starpower on this roster is unmatched, with a pitching staff to back it up.