As much as the Dodgers try to put a stop to the sport of baseball as we know it, life goes on. With spring training in full swing, everyone’s eyes are turning back to the diamond. As teams assemble and new acquisitions meet their teammates for the first time, another question looms: Who’s playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC)?
The WBC is a global tournament that assembles players of all talent levels to compete in a pool format. The top four teams from the 2023 tournament have already secured their spots, while underdog countries have had to earn their participation by playing in qualifying games.
The WBC’s eclectic mixture of superstars and nobodies has produced some of the most shockingly entertaining moments in recent baseball history. It’s enjoyable to watch Shohei Ohtani blast a 450-foot home run, but it’s downright enthralling to see a Czech electrician strike him out a few innings later. For many of the WBC’s participants, baseball is just a side job. But for a few weeks, they get to occupy the same stage as the game’s goliaths, and even get the better of them.
Due to insurance issues, some of MLB’s best will not be allowed to participate in the WBC. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and other stars are being turned away due to injury risk. Despite Bad Bunny’s offer to pay their insurance, these heavy-hitters will be cheering on their respective countries from the sidelines. Thankfully, this year’s tournament has plenty of star power to go around.
In 2023, Team USA certainly did not roll out the best available roster. Despite an amazing lineup, their pitching staff left much to be desired. Even Trea Turner turning into the second coming of Christ for the duration of the tournament was not enough to get them a victory over Team Japan in the final.
In 2026, the roster vastly improved on paper. A rotation that depended on a ragtag group of geriatrics during 2023’s tournament now features some of the league’s best. The two-headed monster of Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, both Cy Young winners in 2025, is an absolute force to be reckoned with on the mound. The lineup is even deeper than 2023’s team, headlined by AL MVP Aaron Judge and slugging maestro Cal Raleigh.
Even with a bevy of superstars at its disposal, a Team USA triumph will be easier said than done. The 2026 iteration of the tournament features a gauntlet of imposing threats, including the Samurai Japan squad that dashed America’s title hopes back in 2023.
Shohei Ohtani will be making his return to international competition, hoping to add a second WBC title to his overflowing trophy case. He’ll be flanked by two of Japan’s premier power hitters in Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami, and star outfielder Seiya Suzuki will look to maintain his momentum after a fantastic 2025 season in MLB.
Japan’s pitching staff will be missing their most electric hurler in Rōki Sasaki, who was blocked from participating in the tournament by Dodgers management. However, Japan’s rotation still boasts a stellar one-two punch of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Hiromi Itoh. While not nearly as star-studded as team USA, Japan’s chemistry and championship experience will be tough to beat.
The most dangerous lineup in the WBC might belong to the Dominican Republic, who are sporting an absolute murderer’s row of hitters headlined by Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and José Ramirez. Outfielders Julio Rodriguez and Fernando Tatís Jr. make for a lethal power-speed combo, and the infield boasts a litany of offensive talent including Ketel Marte and Manny Machado.
Unfortunately, the same praise can’t be lauded upon the pitching staff. If the Dominican lineup is a supercar, the rotation is akin to a lemon held together with duct tape and prayers. Cy Young runner-up Cristopher Sánchez is penciled in as the top starter, but the rest of the pitching staff is unproven on the international stage. Luckily for the DR, their monstrous lineup is capable of keeping them in any contest.
Rounding out the slate of contenders is team Venezuela, who are looking to reach the WBC semifinals for the first time since 2019. Venezuela’s lineup is led by former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., but the squad has embraced the youth movement in this year’s tournament, sporting exciting young talents like Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu.
Venezuela’s pitching is characterized by depth and versatility, with veterans Pablo López and Ranger Suárez leading an experienced rotation. If players like Eduardo Rodríguez and Germán Márquez can survive the dangerous lineups of opposing contenders, Venezuela’s balanced squad could sneak its way into the finals.
It’s a tumultuous time for the world in many respects, and baseball itself is seeing its own share of troubles with 2027’s potential lockout looming. Despite these tribulations, the WBC arrives at a perfect time, as the tournament allows longtime fans and newcomers alike to enjoy the beautiful game on the global stage. Right now, the world could use a fairy tale, and come April, the best place to find new legends in the making will be on the baseball diamond.
Contact Ben Petteruti and Mac Ribner at petteruti@oxy.edu and ribner@oxy.edu
